WesWorld

Looks good Bruce, I may tweak that design a bit but that is more or less what I had in mind, a patrol vessel able to be deployed from the South West Pacific to Alaskan waters to the North Atlantic and Caribbean.

Funny, I simmed the historical Owasco class a few years ago (I was considering using the design as a basis for one of my own ships), and I got something a lot better and a lot cheaper.

Now, I didn't sim the armour you guys put on yours, but 1.50 hull strength translates into light ice-going capability, similar to what the historical Owasco class had. It's worth noting that if you design a ship as an icebreaker, the ideal hull shape for an icebreaker means that it will roll like a pig in a mud-hole in heavy non-ice seas. Ergo, if you want to deploy this ship "from the South West Pacific to Alaskan waters", then you should not add too much icebreaking capability, and keep it at ice-going only, as on the below design.

If you build ten of these ships rather than ten of the previous design, you'll save about 8,000 tons of materials to build one or two real icebreakers.

Quoted

Owasco-class, High Endurance Cutter laid down 1946

Displacement:
1,125 t light; 1,215 t standard; 1,485 t normal; 1,701 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
257.44 ft / 255.91 ft x 42.65 ft x 11.32 ft (normal load)
78.47 m / 78.00 m x 13.00 m x 3.45 m

Armament:
4 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (2x2 guns), 55.16lbs / 25.02kg shells, 1946 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread
8 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (2x4 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
4 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1946 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 234 lbs / 106 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 450

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.20" / 5 mm 0.20" / 5 mm

- Conning tower: 0.98" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 2,532 shp / 1,889 Kw = 17.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 17.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 485 tons

Complement:
119 - 155

Cost:
£0.538 million / $2.153 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 33 tons, 2.2 %
Armour: 9 tons, 0.6 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 6 tons, 0.4 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 3 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 63 tons, 4.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 900 tons, 60.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 360 tons, 24.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 8.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
4,899 lbs / 2,222 Kg = 78.4 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
Metacentric height 2.1 ft / 0.6 m
Roll period: 12.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 77 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.19
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.87

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.421
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 19.35 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 47 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 41
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 17.55 ft / 5.35 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 14.27 ft / 4.35 m
- Mid (50 %): 10.99 ft / 3.35 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 10.99 ft / 3.35 m
- Stern: 10.99 ft / 3.35 m
- Average freeboard: 12.55 ft / 3.83 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 43.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 132.1 %
Waterplane Area: 7,068 Square feet or 657 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 286 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 88 lbs/sq ft or 428 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.36
- Longitudinal: 4.38
- Overall: 1.53
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

I grant you that your design is less expensive; I omitted the transom stern - which is a weight-saver - deliberately. As the original Owascos were turbo-electric, I also stuck with that; my personal preference would be diesels.

I did check my design without a transom stern, and it lowers the hull strength to about 1.45, which I feel is still pretty good.

Quoted

Owasco-class, High Endurance Cutter laid down 1946

Displacement:
1,079 t light; 1,169 t standard; 1,485 t normal; 1,738 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
257.44 ft / 255.91 ft x 42.65 ft x 11.32 ft (normal load)
78.47 m / 78.00 m x 13.00 m x 3.45 m

Armament:
4 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (2x2 guns), 55.16lbs / 25.02kg shells, 1946 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread
8 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (2x4 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
4 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1946 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 234 lbs / 106 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 450

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.20" / 5 mm 0.20" / 5 mm

- Conning tower: 0.98" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 2,979 shp / 2,222 Kw = 17.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 17.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 568 tons

Complement:
119 - 155

Cost:
£0.538 million / $2.152 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 33 tons, 2.2 %
Armour: 9 tons, 0.6 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 6 tons, 0.4 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 3 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 74 tons, 5.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 842 tons, 56.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 406 tons, 27.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 8.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
4,596 lbs / 2,085 Kg = 73.5 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.28
Metacentric height 2.2 ft / 0.7 m
Roll period: 12.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 78 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.18
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.90

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.421
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 16.00 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 47 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 41
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 17.55 ft / 5.35 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 14.27 ft / 4.35 m
- Mid (50 %): 10.99 ft / 3.35 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 10.99 ft / 3.35 m
- Stern: 10.99 ft / 3.35 m
- Average freeboard: 12.55 ft / 3.83 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 46.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 127.2 %
Waterplane Area: 6,808 Square feet or 632 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 274 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 83 lbs/sq ft or 405 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.29
- Longitudinal: 4.10
- Overall: 1.45
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

APA

Haskell class attack transport, converted from the 1940s standard Merchantman design (Victory Ships), 200 on order from FY1946.


Haskell, United States Enter ship type laid down 1946

Displacement:
10,318 t light; 10,684 t standard; 17,500 t normal; 22,952 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
455.11 ft / 436.50 ft x 62.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
138.72 m / 133.05 m x 18.90 m x 7.32 m

Armament:
1 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 55.17lbs / 25.02kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft gun in deck mount
on centreline forward
4 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (1x4 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mount
on side amidships, all raised guns
8 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
8 - 0.75" / 19.1 mm guns (2x4 guns), 0.21lbs / 0.10kg shells, 1946 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
2 - 0.75" / 19.1 mm guns (1x2 guns), 0.21lbs / 0.10kg shells, 1946 Model
Machine guns in deck mount
on side, all raised guns
Weight of broadside 78 lbs / 35 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 300

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 1 shaft, 11,799 shp / 8,802 Kw = 16.50 kts
Range 50,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 12,269 tons

Complement:
759 - 988

Cost:
£2.916 million / $11.666 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 11 tons, 0.1 %
Machinery: 295 tons, 1.7 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,013 tons, 17.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 7,182 tons, 41.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 7,000 tons, 40.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
25,263 lbs / 11,459 Kg = 404.2 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 3.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 0.97
Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
Roll period: 17.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 87 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.01
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.73

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has raised forecastle
Block coefficient: 0.943
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.04 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 20.89 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 44 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 39.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 22.98 ft / 7.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m (14.62 ft / 4.46 m aft of break)
- Mid (50 %): 14.62 ft / 4.46 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.62 ft / 4.46 m
- Stern: 14.62 ft / 4.46 m
- Average freeboard: 15.69 ft / 4.78 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 50.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 99.4 %
Waterplane Area: 27,087 Square feet or 2,516 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 228 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 80 lbs/sq ft or 392 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.21
- Overall: 1.00
Caution: Poor stability - excessive risk of capsizing
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Breakdown of Miscellaneous Weight

22 LCVP @ 8tons plus handling gear - 200 tons
2 LCM @ 23tons plus handling gear - 60 tons
2 LCP(L) @ 8 tons plus handling gear - 25 tons
1 LCP(R) @ 8 tons plus handling gear 12 tons
Troop accomodation of 1,561 men - 3200 tons
Cargo - 2900 tons
Stuff - 603 tons

200 on order? Not a typo?

There are several points upon which this design can be improved, and made distinctly less expensive, even as a conversion.

The stated bunkers are excessive, and by simming part of them as cargo, you can significantly decrease the amount of miscellaneous weight carried above deck. The 2,900 tons of miscellaneous weight presently used for cargo would be a good place to start. That would, I suspect, help with stability issues – you are at risk of capsizing.

The number of troops carried could be reduced slightly – a reinforced battalion might not number more than 1,200 men, 1,300 at the outside. That would also save on miscellaneous weight above deck

I’m not certain what you plan to include in the 603 tons of “stuff” but that too is an area that could be trimmed.

I would ditch the 1.1-inch quad mount amidships – with the boats and handling gear it is not going to have very good sky arcs.

I'd suggest something like this:

-----------

Haskell, United States Attack Transport laid down 1946

Displacement:
8,953 t light; 9,252 t standard; 14,300 t normal; 18,339 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
469.90 ft / 455.00 ft x 62.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
143.23 m / 138.68 m x 18.90 m x 7.32 m

Armament:
1 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 55.17lbs / 25.02kg shells, 1946 Model
Dual purpose gun in deck mount
on centreline forward, 1 raised gun
4 - 1.10" / 27.9 mm guns (1x4 guns), 0.67lbs / 0.30kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mount
on centreline aft
8 - 1.10" / 27.9 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.67lbs / 0.30kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
8 - 0.91" / 23.1 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.38lbs / 0.17kg shells, 1946 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 66 lbs / 30 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 300

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.25" / 6 mm 0.25" / 6 mm -
2nd: 0.15" / 4 mm 0.15" / 4 mm -
3rd: 0.15" / 4 mm 0.15" / 4 mm -
4th: 0.15" / 4 mm - -

- Conning tower: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 1 shaft, 12,729 shp / 9,496 Kw = 17.70 kts
Range 43,710nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 9,087 tons

Complement:
653 - 849

Cost:
£2.592 million / $10.369 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 9 tons, 0.1 %
Armour: 15 tons, 0.1 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 2 tons, 0.0 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 13 tons, 0.1 %
Machinery: 318 tons, 2.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,611 tons, 25.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,347 tons, 37.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 5,000 tons, 35.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
27,880 lbs / 12,646 Kg = 446.1 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 3.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 2.9 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 15.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.01
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.80

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.739
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.34 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 21.33 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 43 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 33
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 14.90 ft / 4.54 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 23.50 ft / 7.16 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 19.40 ft / 5.91 m
- Mid (50 %): 14.90 ft / 4.54 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.90 ft / 4.54 m
- Stern: 14.90 ft / 4.54 m
- Average freeboard: 16.80 ft / 5.12 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 47.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 108.7 %
Waterplane Area: 23,376 Square feet or 2,172 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 250 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 104 lbs/sq ft or 506 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.23
- Longitudinal: 1.73
- Overall: 1.28
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Low-stowed cargo simmed as additional bunkers. True radius is 12,500 nm at 14 knots on bunkers of 1,215 tons. Remaining 2,900 tons represents cargo

Breakdown of miscellaneous weight:

Troop space - 86 officers and 1,475 enlisted (max) - 3,200 tons
Provision for cargo carried on deck - 600 tons
Landing craft and handling gear - 300 tons
Electronics (radar, etc) - 100 tons
Boat repair shop - 300 tons
Engine repair shop - 300 tons
Dispensary and medical facilities - 200 tons

Cost to convert (@ 25%) - 2,239 tons
Time to convert - 142 days

Quoted

200 on order? Not a typo?

I think it is. I thought he told me 2000.

Quoted

I would ditch the 1.1-inch quad mount amidships – with the boats and handling gear it is not going to have very good sky arcs.

I don't know. They are superfiring after all so they may actually be sticking out above all the boats and handling gear might not bother them too much when aiming upwards into the sky from that position.

200 are ordered. I never said when the order completes. The quad mount and the 2900t cargo spec are from OTL as per Conways

Quoted

200 are ordered. I never said when the order completes.

I guess I must have mixed things up with that large amount of small landing craft then.


I actually missed this bit in the Haskell sim...

Quoted

Caution: Poor stability - excessive risk of capsizing

Considering the amount of steadiness you can easily set the trim lower to bring stability up to above 1.00 I think.

The question to ask really is how many will be laid down in FY1946.

Oh there is some tweaking to be done, I just dislike/haven't done ship sims like this so I throw it out there and adjust based on the feedback.

Quoted from "TheCanadian"

The question to ask really is how many will be laid down in FY1946. :P

Oh there is some tweaking to be done, I just dislike/haven't done ship sims like this so I throw it out there and adjust based on the feedback.

Well, that is the purpose of peer-review, to gain feedback. I know I did when I first started to sim auxiliaries. I've gotten used to it by now. :D

Patrol Craft

A single Patrol Craft to be laid down as an experimental type for FY1945, if she proves sucessful a further 6 are tenatively on order for FY1946.

PC-1, United States Submarine Chaser laid down 1946

Displacement:
363 t light; 375 t standard; 426 t normal; 467 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
170.00 ft / 170.00 ft x 23.25 ft x 7.75 ft (normal load)
51.82 m / 51.82 m x 7.09 m x 2.36 m

Armament:
2 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns in single mounts, 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1946 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on centreline ends, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 27 lbs / 12 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 200

Machinery:
Petrol Internal combustion motors,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 7,041 shp / 5,253 Kw = 24.00 kts
Range 4,800nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 92 tons

Complement:
46 - 60

Cost:
£0.285 million / $1.139 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 3 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 176 tons, 41.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 169 tons, 39.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 63 tons, 14.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 15 tons, 3.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
300 lbs / 136 Kg = 22.2 x 3.0 " / 76 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
Metacentric height 0.8 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 11.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.09
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.487
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.31 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 13.04 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 74 %
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: 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
- Mid (50 %): 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
- Stern: 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
- Average freeboard: 12.24 ft / 3.73 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 143.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 129.3 %
Waterplane Area: 2,603 Square feet or 242 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 28 lbs/sq ft or 139 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.66
- Longitudinal: 8.56
- Overall: 0.86
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Looks good but the 15 tons misc weight seems a little low for the sonar and K-guns and DCs etc. likely to be carried on a sub hunter.
Might want some 0.50cal Brownings or something on there too for those little jobs.

Agree with what Hood said.

Also, one other minor detail is that the rules on hull strength less than 1.00 indicate ">24kn" which is 'greater than 24' and not 'greater than or equal to 24 knots'.

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

Also, one other minor detail is that the rules on hull strength less than 1.00 indicate ">24kn" which is 'greater than 24' and not 'greater than or equal to 24 knots'.

This question came up some time ago when I was designing the Mehrzweckboot Typ 1940 small coastal escort. The consensus of the mods and the player base was in favor of greater than or equal to.