WesWorld

I too have been thinking about my cruiser fleet.

I have decided on three options.

1) A 170m long version of the below design. This fits most dock facilities I have but has poor seakeeping and to save space I won't post the SS report just yet.

2) A light but fast cruiser with 4x3 190mm and 120mm belt and 32kts speed. A longer hull, since most CA have hulls around 185m+ this design follows the trend and is bigger. Facilities can allways be upgraded later.

La Argentina, Argentina Heavy Cruiser laid down 1934

Displacement:
11,063 t light; 11,549 t standard; 12,510 t normal; 13,280 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
633.37 ft / 623.36 ft x 67.26 ft x 21.49 ft (normal load)
193.05 m / 190.00 m x 20.50 m x 6.55 m

Armament:
12 - 7.48" / 190 mm guns (4x3 guns), 253.53lbs / 115.00kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 4.53" / 115 mm guns (4x2 guns), 46.40lbs / 21.05kg shells, 1931 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
18 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (3x6 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
Weight of broadside 3,436 lbs / 1,559 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 120
8 - 23.6" / 600 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 354.33 ft / 108.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 2.76" / 70 mm 2.76" / 70 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 2.76" / 70 mm
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
4th: 0.47" / 12 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.15" / 80 mm, Conning tower: 2.76" / 70 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 82,439 shp / 61,499 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 7,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,731 tons

Complement:
590 - 768

Cost:
£5.028 million / $20.114 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 363 tons, 2.9 %
Armour: 2,857 tons, 22.8 %
- Belts: 706 tons, 5.6 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 448 tons, 3.6 %
- Armour Deck: 1,671 tons, 13.4 %
- Conning Tower: 32 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 2,372 tons, 19.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,371 tons, 42.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,448 tons, 11.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
17,442 lbs / 7,912 Kg = 83.3 x 7.5 " / 190 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
Metacentric height 3.1 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 16.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.76
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.486
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.27 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.71 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 63
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: 27.49 ft / 8.38 m
- Forecastle (18 %): 21.33 ft / 6.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Quarterdeck (16 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Stern: 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Average freeboard: 20.69 ft / 6.31 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 85.3 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 155.0 %
Waterplane Area: 28,675 Square feet or 2,664 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 123 lbs/sq ft or 602 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.47
- 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


3) If I have to build longer then why not fit 5x3 190mm guns?


La Argentina, Argentina Heavy Cruiser laid down 1934

Displacement:
11,588 t light; 12,137 t standard; 13,128 t normal; 13,921 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
633.37 ft / 623.36 ft x 67.26 ft x 21.49 ft (normal load)
193.05 m / 190.00 m x 20.50 m x 6.55 m

Armament:
15 - 7.48" / 190 mm guns (5x3 guns), 253.53lbs / 115.00kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 4.53" / 115 mm guns (4x2 guns), 46.40lbs / 21.05kg shells, 1931 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
18 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (3x6 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
Weight of broadside 4,197 lbs / 1,904 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 120
8 - 23.6" / 600 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 367.45 ft / 112.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 2.76" / 70 mm 2.76" / 70 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 2.76" / 70 mm
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
4th: 0.47" / 12 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.15" / 80 mm, Conning tower: 2.76" / 70 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 86,000 shp / 64,156 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 7,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,785 tons

Complement:
613 - 797

Cost:
£5.513 million / $22.051 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 442 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 3,012 tons, 22.9 %
- Belts: 728 tons, 5.5 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 542 tons, 4.1 %
- Armour Deck: 1,709 tons, 13.0 %
- Conning Tower: 33 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 2,474 tons, 18.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,560 tons, 42.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,540 tons, 11.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
17,670 lbs / 8,015 Kg = 84.4 x 7.5 " / 190 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
Metacentric height 3.3 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 15.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.81
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.510
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.27 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.63 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 57
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: 27.49 ft / 8.38 m
- Forecastle (18 %): 21.33 ft / 6.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Quarterdeck (16 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Stern: 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Average freeboard: 20.69 ft / 6.31 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 88.3 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 152.5 %
Waterplane Area: 29,323 Square feet or 2,724 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 113 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 125 lbs/sq ft or 613 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.42
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent


4) Presidente Sarimento will be rebuilt into a flagship for a CA squadron. Fast but also well armoured to withstand heavy shells. Also a 10 gun broadside too.


Garibaldi (ex Presidente Sarimento), Argentina Super Heavy Cruiser laid down 1906 (Engine 1934)

Displacement:
13,824 t light; 14,528 t standard; 15,208 t normal; 15,752 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
537.77 ft / 529.00 ft x 75.00 ft x 26.00 ft (normal load)
163.91 m / 161.24 m x 22.86 m x 7.92 m

Armament:
6 - 7.48" / 190 mm guns (2x3 guns), 253.53lbs / 115.00kg shells, 1925 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
8 - 7.48" / 190 mm guns (4x2 guns), 253.53lbs / 115.00kg shells, 1925 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side ends, evenly spread
8 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (4x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.40kg shells, 1931 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side ends, evenly spread
8 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (4x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
10 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6 mounts), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1930 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 4,345 lbs / 1,971 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 7.87" / 200 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 209.00 ft / 63.70 m 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Upper: 3.00" / 76 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Main Belt covers 93 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 2.76" / 70 mm 8.00" / 203 mm
2nd: 4.72" / 120 mm 2.76" / 70 mm 6.00" / 152 mm
3rd: 1.18" / 30 mm 0.59" / 15 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
4th: 0.79" / 20 mm 0.39" / 10 mm 0.79" / 20 mm
5th: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Armour deck: 4.33" / 110 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 94,000 shp / 70,124 Kw = 30.01 kts
Range 10,000nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,225 tons

Complement:
684 - 890

Cost:
£1.254 million / $5.015 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 466 tons, 3.1 %
Armour: 4,929 tons, 32.4 %
- Belts: 1,817 tons, 11.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 857 tons, 5.6 %
- Armour Deck: 2,149 tons, 14.1 %
- Conning Tower: 106 tons, 0.7 %
Machinery: 2,704 tons, 17.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,640 tons, 37.1 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,384 tons, 9.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 85 tons, 0.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
19,278 lbs / 8,745 Kg = 92.1 x 7.5 " / 190 mm shells or 2.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 3.7 ft / 1.1 m
Roll period: 16.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.50
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 0.87

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.516
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.05 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 23.00 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 18.00 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 %): 23.50 ft / 7.16 m
- Mid (65 %): 21.50 ft / 6.55 m (14.50 ft / 4.42 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
- Stern: 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
- Average freeboard: 20.18 ft / 6.15 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 83.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 153.1 %
Waterplane Area: 26,825 Square feet or 2,492 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 137 lbs/sq ft or 670 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.95
- Longitudinal: 1.98
- Overall: 1.02
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather

The question is which is best, 1, 2 or 3?

Not to be a pain in the behind, but best for what roles, exactly?

I was thinking technically but the planned roles are;
screening BB/CL forces, commercial raiding, attacking enemy CA forces, attacking enemy scouting vessels, fire support, heading mini-task forces to seek out enemy ships and to offer additional AA defence to any force she is part of.

The deck armor is probably over-strong on all of these, at least for engaging ships of comparable size and in comparison to the belt armor. Also, I have to wonder about the 190mm main batteries.

I like the second Argentina the best. Roughly the same build time and resources committed for both, but better bang for the buck on the second.

I think the 190mm were historical....and appearently the real cruisers were dissappointing due to trying to do too much with too little.

I'd go with the Presidente Sarimento rebuild if you want a good CA on the cheap. If your willing to spend the money the 15x7.48" version is the best as she can take a wee bit more punishment.

I'd like to see both version 1 and a slightly larger version 3, around 13,000 tons.

Whatever you do, dont go with the 15 gun version. While I really like her, I have my reasons. Just ask ShinRa.

Indeed!

The thick armour is to defend against 10" gunned cruisers at long-range, I'm wary of plunging fire at long ranges.

I'm asking why I should not have fifteen guns? Is it recoil or practical problems or just because I'm stealing your glory in having the biggest cruiser.

BTW the 190mm is already in use in Argentina.

Another option would seem to be to take the General Belgrano design and fit it with twin 7.5" guns in place of the triple 5.9" mounts. Less expensive than some other choices, the similarity in appearance could be useful at times, and there could also be a savings because of common logistics.

I don't think President Sarimento is worth the cost of a rebuild. The hull is old, and it's been damaged at least once by capital ship shells. She'll come out of the rebuild with a uniform but still obsolete main battery layout, a speed that remains too slow for modern cruiser ops, and poor seakeeping that will hinder her operations in the South Atlantic. Scrap her and you'll have almost 9,000 t (15% of LD in scrap, and 50% of LD not spent rebuilding her) to build a spanky new cruiser. A bit more if you sell those guns to Mexico.

#3 is interesting, but my own thinking is that by the time you exceed four turrets or ~12 guns, you ought to install a larger calibre instead.

#2 is a pretty solid CA design, though I agree with Hrolf that the deck armor is excessive (your response is noted). I'd give up 10 mm of deck armor and add two more twin 11 cm secondaries to improve the AA capabilities.

#2 is, however, over-kill for commerce raiding. Possibly also for the screening function, where a smaller ship with a similar number of ~15 cm guns might be more valuable on account of the great volume of fire.

I'd like to see #1, and I'd be curious to see a variant with only 3x3 190 mm guns, as you could probably add some AA and improve other chacteristics that give you a decent little CA that fits type 2 docks.

You could take your Veinticinco de Mayo class and enlarge it to fit triple turrents. Or add another twin aft. She might even fit in a Type 2.

Here are some more designs.

2A) 5mm less deck armour and 6x2 100mm AA.

La Argentina, Argentina Heavy Cruiser laid down 1934

Displacement:
10,846 t light; 11,328 t standard; 12,279 t normal; 13,039 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
633.37 ft / 623.36 ft x 67.26 ft x 21.49 ft (normal load)
193.05 m / 190.00 m x 20.50 m x 6.55 m

Armament:
12 - 7.48" / 190 mm guns (4x3 guns), 253.53lbs / 115.00kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (6x2 guns), 30.42lbs / 13.80kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
18 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (3x6 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
Weight of broadside 3,430 lbs / 1,556 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 120
8 - 23.6" / 600 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 354.33 ft / 108.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 2.76" / 70 mm 2.76" / 70 mm
2nd: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.59" / 15 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
4th: 0.47" / 12 mm - -

- Armour deck: 2.95" / 75 mm, Conning tower: 2.76" / 70 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 81,200 shp / 60,575 Kw = 32.01 kts
Range 7,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,711 tons

Complement:
583 - 758

Cost:
£4.964 million / $19.857 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 363 tons, 3.0 %
Armour: 2,728 tons, 22.2 %
- Belts: 705 tons, 5.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 437 tons, 3.6 %
- Armour Deck: 1,554 tons, 12.7 %
- Conning Tower: 32 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 2,336 tons, 19.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,320 tons, 43.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,432 tons, 11.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
17,153 lbs / 7,780 Kg = 82.0 x 7.5 " / 190 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.06
Metacentric height 3.1 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 16.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.76
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.13

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.477
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.27 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.75 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 62
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: 27.49 ft / 8.38 m
- Forecastle (18 %): 21.33 ft / 6.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Quarterdeck (16 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Stern: 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Average freeboard: 20.69 ft / 6.31 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 85.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 155.6 %
Waterplane Area: 28,442 Square feet or 2,642 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 123 lbs/sq ft or 600 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.48
- 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


1) Here is the 170m version now with only 3x3 190mm

La Argentina, Argentina Heavy Cruiser laid down 1934

Displacement:
9,070 t light; 9,498 t standard; 10,341 t normal; 11,015 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
567.75 ft / 557.74 ft x 63.98 ft x 21.49 ft (normal load)
173.05 m / 170.00 m x 19.50 m x 6.55 m

Armament:
9 - 7.48" / 190 mm guns (3x3 guns), 253.53lbs / 115.00kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
6 - 4.53" / 115 mm guns (3x2 guns), 46.40lbs / 21.05kg shells, 1934 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all aft, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (2x6 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
Weight of broadside 2,575 lbs / 1,168 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 23.6" / 600 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 344.49 ft / 105.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 95 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 2.76" / 70 mm 2.76" / 70 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
4th: 0.47" / 12 mm - -

- Armour deck: 2.17" / 55 mm, Conning tower: 2.76" / 70 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 80,500 shp / 60,053 Kw = 32.51 kts
Range 7,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,517 tons

Complement:
512 - 666

Cost:
£4.272 million / $17.089 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 272 tons, 2.6 %
Armour: 2,003 tons, 19.4 %
- Belts: 680 tons, 6.6 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 330 tons, 3.2 %
- Armour Deck: 965 tons, 9.3 %
- Conning Tower: 28 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 2,316 tons, 22.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,379 tons, 42.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,271 tons, 12.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 1.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
13,772 lbs / 6,247 Kg = 65.8 x 7.5 " / 190 mm shells or 1.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.17
Metacentric height 3.4 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 14.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.54
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.472
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.72 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.35 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
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: 27.49 ft / 8.38 m
- Forecastle (18 %): 21.33 ft / 6.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Quarterdeck (16 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Stern: 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Average freeboard: 20.69 ft / 6.31 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 94.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 144.9 %
Waterplane Area: 24,098 Square feet or 2,239 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 116 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 116 lbs/sq ft or 567 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.82
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

I have tried the Belgrano variant as proposed by Hrolf. Only 8-9 will fit and then only just given the weights involved. I like the idea of the look-alike. I am now favouring the cheaper 170m version. Only two will be built to pair up with Veinticinco de Mayo Class. Four Belgrano's (inc one seaplane carrier version) would form another squadron, the final with four Light Scout Cruisers.

Go for the 12-gun version of the above two, you're getting a lot more out of her for only a month and 1000 tons more.

BCs on these two are getting pretty low for a cruiser. I'd expect it to be closer to 0.5.

.472 isn't bad. These are cruisers, not battleships.

Battleships are closer to 0.6, with battlecruisers around 0.55-0.58

Have to admit, I'm a little surprised the switch of 7.5" for 5.9" didn't work out directly. But here's a slightly modified (a little deeper) version of General Belgrano for viewing.

Pampas, Argentine Heavy Cruiser laid down 1934

Displacement:
11,185 t light; 11,645 t standard; 12,749 t normal; 13,632 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
637.98 ft / 623.36 ft x 65.62 ft x 21.82 ft (normal load)
194.46 m / 190.00 m x 20.00 m x 6.65 m

Armament:
10 - 7.48" / 190 mm guns (5x2 guns), 209.28lbs / 94.93kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (4x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1934 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side ends, evenly spread
16 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1934 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
16 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1934 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 2,366 lbs / 1,073 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 23.6" / 600 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.72" / 120 mm 405.18 ft / 123.50 m 9.71 ft / 2.96 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 5.91" / 150 mm 3.94" / 100 mm 5.91" / 150 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.79" / 20 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
4th: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Armour deck: 2.24" / 57 mm, Conning tower: 4.72" / 120 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 89,123 shp / 66,486 Kw = 32.50 kts
Range 8,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,987 tons

Complement:
599 - 779

Cost:
£4.903 million / $19.613 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 296 tons, 2.3 %
Armour: 2,822 tons, 22.1 %
- Belts: 777 tons, 6.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 812 tons, 6.4 %
- Armour Deck: 1,177 tons, 9.2 %
- Conning Tower: 56 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 2,564 tons, 20.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,429 tons, 42.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,563 tons, 12.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 75 tons, 0.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
19,215 lbs / 8,716 Kg = 91.8 x 7.5 " / 190 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 3.0 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 15.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 63 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.59
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.27

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.500
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.50 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.61 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 31.17 ft / 9.50 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Mid (40 %): 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Stern: 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Average freeboard: 23.62 ft / 7.20 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 84.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 171.7 %
Waterplane Area: 28,340 Square feet or 2,633 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 123 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 117 lbs/sq ft or 572 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.95
- Longitudinal: 1.77
- Overall: 1.01
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

75 tons reserved for aircraft facilities

It's closer to 2,000 t between the three triple and four triple designs.

I rather like that 170 m myself - though I'd shave down the deck armor just enough to shoe-horn another twin secondary. Otherwise, she's fast, well-armored, and has a pretty useful main battery - on something that fits into a type 2 dock.

I think 0.47 is an okay BC for a 9,000 t cruiser, m'self.