WesWorld

With all the talk recently of 'Super-Cruisers' in the hunter or escort roles the RN feels a new class of CA type vessels is required. At least four will be built before 1939. The main choice is either to have triple or quad 9.2in turrets.

There are several designs under the consideration by the DNC.

This design favours speed over armour and is armed with only three triple turrets.
Design A2 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
16,231 t light; 17,017 t standard; 18,800 t normal; 20,227 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
730.92 ft / 720.00 ft x 74.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
222.78 m / 219.46 m x 22.56 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
9 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (3x3 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 3.70" / 94.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 25.00lbs / 11.34kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all aft, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 4,839 lbs / 2,195 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 5.50" / 140 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 90 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 7.00" / 178 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.50" / 89 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 145,000 shp / 108,170 Kw = 35.10 kts
Range 12,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,210 tons

Complement:
802 - 1,043

Cost:
£8.078 million / $32.311 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 469 tons, 2.5 %
Armour: 4,029 tons, 21.4 %
- Belts: 784 tons, 4.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 822 tons, 4.4 %
- Armour Deck: 2,377 tons, 12.6 %
- Conning Tower: 46 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 4,068 tons, 21.6 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,564 tons, 40.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,569 tons, 13.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
23,609 lbs / 10,709 Kg = 60.6 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
Metacentric height 4.4 ft / 1.3 m
Roll period: 14.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.52
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 0.96

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.494
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.73 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.71 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 52
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: 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 20.96 ft / 6.39 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 149.2 %
Waterplane Area: 36,711 Square feet or 3,411 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 137 lbs/sq ft or 668 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.21
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather


This is the A1 with an extra turret for the cost of 1kt of speed.
Design A2 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
17,099 t light; 18,050 t standard; 19,893 t normal; 21,368 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
725.92 ft / 715.00 ft x 72.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
221.26 m / 217.93 m x 21.95 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (4x3 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (4x2 guns), 45.56lbs / 20.67kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all aft, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,533 lbs / 2,963 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 5.50" / 140 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 7.00" / 178 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.50" / 89 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 136,000 shp / 101,456 Kw = 34.01 kts
Range 12,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,318 tons

Complement:
836 - 1,088

Cost:
£8.788 million / $35.151 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 636 tons, 3.2 %
Armour: 4,389 tons, 22.1 %
- Belts: 830 tons, 4.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 1,110 tons, 5.6 %
- Armour Deck: 2,401 tons, 12.1 %
- Conning Tower: 47 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 3,816 tons, 19.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,079 tons, 40.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,795 tons, 14.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 0.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
23,966 lbs / 10,871 Kg = 61.6 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
Metacentric height 3.6 ft / 1.1 m
Roll period: 16.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.86
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 0.93

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.541
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.93 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.39 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 54
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: 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 20.96 ft / 6.39 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 143.8 %
Waterplane Area: 37,082 Square feet or 3,445 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 115 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 144 lbs/sq ft or 705 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.99
- Longitudinal: 1.19
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather


The basic triple turreted cruiser with lower speed but thicker belt armour.
Design B1 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
17,066 t light; 18,016 t standard; 19,850 t normal; 21,316 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
720.37 ft / 710.00 ft x 76.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
219.57 m / 216.41 m x 23.16 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (4x3 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (4x2 guns), 45.56lbs / 20.67kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all aft, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,533 lbs / 2,963 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 82 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 9.00" / 229 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.50" / 89 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 112,000 shp / 83,552 Kw = 32.42 kts
Range 12,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,300 tons

Complement:
835 - 1,086

Cost:
£8.285 million / $33.139 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 636 tons, 3.2 %
Armour: 4,850 tons, 24.4 %
- Belts: 987 tons, 5.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 1,313 tons, 6.6 %
- Armour Deck: 2,455 tons, 12.4 %
- Conning Tower: 95 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 3,143 tons, 15.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,258 tons, 41.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,783 tons, 14.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 0.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
26,867 lbs / 12,187 Kg = 69.0 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.8 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.04
Metacentric height 3.6 ft / 1.1 m
Roll period: 16.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.81
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.515
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.34 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.52 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
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: 28.50 ft / 8.69 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 20.71 ft / 6.31 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 78.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 147.5 %
Waterplane Area: 37,918 Square feet or 3,523 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 121 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 148 lbs/sq ft or 721 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 1.22
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent


This is the basic quad turreted design.
Design C1 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
17,213 t light; 18,174 t standard; 19,518 t normal; 20,594 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
715.37 ft / 705.00 ft x 76.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
218.05 m / 214.88 m x 23.16 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (3x4 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (6x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.07kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,709 lbs / 3,043 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 83 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 9.00" / 229 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 110,000 shp / 82,060 Kw = 32.36 kts
Range 12,000nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,420 tons

Complement:
825 - 1,073

Cost:
£8.371 million / $33.485 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 658 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 5,097 tons, 26.1 %
- Belts: 1,184 tons, 6.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 1,046 tons, 5.4 %
- Armour Deck: 2,773 tons, 14.2 %
- Conning Tower: 94 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 3,086 tons, 15.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,191 tons, 42.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,306 tons, 11.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 0.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
26,415 lbs / 11,982 Kg = 67.8 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 3.8 ft / 1.2 m
Roll period: 16.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.79
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: 9.28 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.44 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
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: 28.50 ft / 8.69 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 20.71 ft / 6.31 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 79.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 147.4 %
Waterplane Area: 37,474 Square feet or 3,481 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 148 lbs/sq ft or 723 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

This has an extra quad turret for better firepower but thinner deck armour than the C1.
Design C2 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
16,674 t light; 17,634 t standard; 19,442 t normal; 20,888 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
715.37 ft / 705.00 ft x 76.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
218.05 m / 214.88 m x 23.16 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (3x4 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (6x2 guns), 45.56lbs / 20.67kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,715 lbs / 3,046 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 83 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 9.00" / 229 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.50" / 89 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 110,000 shp / 82,060 Kw = 32.39 kts
Range 12,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,254 tons

Complement:
823 - 1,070

Cost:
£8.272 million / $33.087 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 658 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 4,548 tons, 23.4 %
- Belts: 987 tons, 5.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 1,046 tons, 5.4 %
- Armour Deck: 2,422 tons, 12.5 %
- Conning Tower: 93 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 3,086 tons, 15.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,201 tons, 42.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,768 tons, 14.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 0.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
26,399 lbs / 11,975 Kg = 67.8 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
Metacentric height 3.9 ft / 1.2 m
Roll period: 16.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.78
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.508
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.28 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.45 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
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: 28.50 ft / 8.69 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 20.71 ft / 6.31 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 80.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 147.5 %
Waterplane Area: 37,403 Square feet or 3,475 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 120 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 148 lbs/sq ft or 725 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.29
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent


Design C3 is the C1 with thicker belt armour (7 inches).
Design C3 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
16,636 t light; 17,586 t standard; 18,906 t normal; 19,962 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
715.92 ft / 705.00 ft x 76.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
218.21 m / 214.88 m x 23.16 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (3x4 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (6x2 guns), 45.56lbs / 20.67kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,715 lbs / 3,046 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 7.00" / 178 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.50" / 89 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 110,000 shp / 82,060 Kw = 32.59 kts
Range 12,000nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,375 tons

Complement:
806 - 1,048

Cost:
£8.265 million / $33.059 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 658 tons, 3.5 %
Armour: 4,525 tons, 23.9 %
- Belts: 1,200 tons, 6.3 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 889 tons, 4.7 %
- Armour Deck: 2,390 tons, 12.6 %
- Conning Tower: 46 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 3,086 tons, 16.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,187 tons, 43.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,270 tons, 12.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 1.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
25,474 lbs / 11,555 Kg = 65.4 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.6 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 4.0 ft / 1.2 m
Roll period: 16.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.78
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.08

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.494
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.28 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.50 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 55
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: 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 20.96 ft / 6.39 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 149.5 %
Waterplane Area: 36,918 Square feet or 3,430 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 149 lbs/sq ft or 728 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.34
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

A maximum design which favours firepower and armour over speed.
Design D1 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
18,331 t light; 19,341 t standard; 21,902 t normal; 23,952 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
727.64 ft / 720.00 ft x 78.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
221.78 m / 219.46 m x 23.77 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (3x4 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (6x2 guns), 45.56lbs / 20.67kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,715 lbs / 3,046 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 77 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 9.00" / 229 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 120,000 shp / 89,520 Kw = 32.40 kts
Range 12,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,611 tons

Complement:
899 - 1,170

Cost:
£8.785 million / $35.139 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 658 tons, 3.0 %
Armour: 5,582 tons, 25.5 %
- Belts: 1,425 tons, 6.5 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 1,048 tons, 4.8 %
- Armour Deck: 3,008 tons, 13.7 %
- Conning Tower: 101 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 3,367 tons, 15.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,603 tons, 39.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,571 tons, 16.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 0.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
31,710 lbs / 14,384 Kg = 81.4 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 3.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 4.3 ft / 1.3 m
Roll period: 15.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.67
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.546
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.23 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.65 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
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: 28.50 ft / 8.69 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 20.71 ft / 6.31 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 75.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 147.8 %
Waterplane Area: 40,648 Square feet or 3,776 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 124 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 146 lbs/sq ft or 714 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 1.18
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent


A basic design based on the Colony Class with seaplane facilities and twin turrets for the cheaper and easier to build option.
Design E1 , Great Britain Light Cruiser laid down 1935

Displacement:
9,701 t light; 10,242 t standard; 12,006 t normal; 13,417 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
596.65 ft / 585.00 ft x 68.00 ft x 21.00 ft (normal load)
181.86 m / 178.31 m x 20.73 m x 6.40 m

Armament:
6 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (3x2 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (4x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all aft, all raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 3,495 lbs / 1,585 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 89 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
5th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 78,000 shp / 58,188 Kw = 31.49 kts
Range 12,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,175 tons

Complement:
573 - 745

Cost:
£4.790 million / $19.158 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 346 tons, 2.9 %
Armour: 1,884 tons, 15.7 %
- Belts: 586 tons, 4.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 253 tons, 2.1 %
- Armour Deck: 1,023 tons, 8.5 %
- Conning Tower: 23 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,216 tons, 18.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,135 tons, 42.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,305 tons, 19.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 1.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
17,753 lbs / 8,053 Kg = 45.6 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
Metacentric height 3.5 ft / 1.1 m
Roll period: 15.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.71
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.13

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.503
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.60 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.93 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
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: 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (47 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
- Stern: 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
- Average freeboard: 21.58 ft / 6.58 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 84.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 153.1 %
Waterplane Area: 27,640 Square feet or 2,568 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 130 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 123 lbs/sq ft or 599 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.75
- 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


The biggest maximum design with heavy armour and firepower and the basis of the still secret F2 with nine 12in guns.
Design F1 , Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
25,785 t light; 27,159 t standard; 30,357 t normal; 32,916 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
811.65 ft / 800.00 ft x 85.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
247.39 m / 243.84 m x 25.91 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
16 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (4x4 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (8x2 guns), 45.56lbs / 20.67kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
36 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (6x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 8,984 lbs / 4,075 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 90 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
2.50" / 64 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 21.00 ft / 6.40 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 9.00" / 229 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 146,000 shp / 108,916 Kw = 32.30 kts
Range 12,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,757 tons

Complement:
1,149 - 1,494

Cost:
£11.688 million / $46.752 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 882 tons, 2.9 %
Armour: 8,747 tons, 28.8 %
- Belts: 2,170 tons, 7.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 913 tons, 3.0 %
- Armament: 1,610 tons, 5.3 %
- Armour Deck: 3,928 tons, 12.9 %
- Conning Tower: 126 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 4,097 tons, 13.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 11,880 tons, 39.1 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,572 tons, 15.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 0.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
50,559 lbs / 22,933 Kg = 129.9 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 7.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
Roll period: 16.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.86
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.16

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.625
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.41 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 32.02 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 61
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: 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (50 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Stern: 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Average freeboard: 24.53 ft / 7.48 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89.3 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 208.5 %
Waterplane Area: 53,082 Square feet or 4,931 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 126 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 158 lbs/sq ft or 770 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.99
- Longitudinal: 1.07
- 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

Quick comments:
Design A1 is labeled A2. Design C2 appears to be missing, the design posted as C2 appears to be the same as C1.

For a cruiser I wouldn´t choose quads. I also doubt you need 35kn. However, you have not explained what kind of mission you foresee for these units.

Of these, I think the one I like best is B1. E1 is really too small for that armament, I suspect (with the lower rate of fire the 9.2" is likely to have vs a 8" or 6" gun). F1 suffers from the opposite problem: too big for it's guns (though a version with 12" guns would be OK). The A series seems underarmored, more OTL Italian than British because of the high speeds. I'm not really enamored of the C series, perhaps because of the quads, which would be fairly wide mountings, and the short (lengthwise) belts (which would leave a lot of unarmored hull to be shot up by 3" HE rounds). D1 suffers from the same short belt problem, but it's got it even worse than the C series.

The Japanese 10" are less than 9kg heavier.

So when you mount 12 of them you're talking significant firepower!

Agreed, the weight of the shells might be a bit high. The Russian 9.2" guns on the Admiral Makarovs are firing 200 kg shells, while the older 9.2" guns from the pre-Great War period were firing ~172 kg shells. So the Russian guns are firing shells about 16% heavier than the old guns, so they're fairly heavy. A 231 kg shell, though, that's 34% heavier, getting REALLY super-heavy.

I came across a formula for determining shell weights, with a variable for light, normal, and super-heavy shell weights a few months ago, but I can't seem to find it now...

That is usually the case, Shinra. When you actually need something, you usually can't find it.

IIRC the USN shells were 40% overweight. The RN experimented with superheavy shells around 1920 looking at 40% and 60% overweight designs (a c.4000lb 18" shell) but found that they were inferior to standard shells. At higher obliquity angles the longer shells tend to bend and break up instead of penetrate which is why they have to have thicker walls and so much less explosive.

The USN method came up with a shell that would probably penetrate under most conditions.

The RN method came up with a shell with a larger explosive charge that would succesfully explode under most conditions. This led to the post-war HEP shell which could even bounce off armour and still explode.

here's my 2 cents...wait the dollar depreciated... my 1.8 cents

Overall : As said, the 9.2" shells are very heavy. On the 57mm, I know when I had some on a design I got a lecture from RA about them being a poor choice due to not enough more bang for the reduced ROF. I know several folks are working on automatic 57mms, but those would be slightly early I believe.
Belts are generally to short for armored raft-style flotation, but the RN does operate far from home.
I am a little curious as to the 12,000nm ranges. I guess I could look to see if that's been the RN standard for ages, but I'm lazy. Just curious as to the choice of range.
I am also curious as to the reason you stick so hard to the 25ft draft, some harbor limitation?

A2 :
The belt is short, not terribly thick, and reports as not covering the magazines.
The barbettes could likely loose an inch of armor.
The conning tower has an odd thickness- not enough to stop the primary opposition, but overkill for splinters.
Deck is good.
Speed is fast enough to mean you can likely catch/keep pace with anything, unless there is a high sea.
With that 21ft freeboard, I expect that poor seakeeping to 'correct' itself quickly as you drop speed.

A2.
It's not the A1 with an extra turret- different beam and BC. .
Same comments. In this case I think the firepower/speed tradeoff is worth it.
I am a little curious why the seaboat quality dropped to 0.93, despite the speed loss. That hull form change may be to blame.

B1.
I'm a little curious why the A1/2 have 94mm while the B1 has 114mm. Presumably they have a similar opposition profile, which would suggest one or the other is a "better" choice.
The belt armor is better, a little thicker and taller.
I don't get why the 9" barbette armor is the thickest element. The barbette should be as resilient as the other vitals- i.e. belt, or a little less for the curved nature.
Speed is adequate, depending on what you expect future capital ship speeds to be.
I would expect the stem to be raised sufficient to not be wet, and better overall seakeeping.

C1.
I've always found quads ..bleh.. I notice the beam is the same as the triple armed ship- suggesting the triple could get slimmer or the quad is not wide enough. Unfortunately there is a dearth of 9.2 quad vessels available for comparison. The best I can do is the old battleships, such as the Kaiser Frederich III class with twin 9.4" and a 67ft beam. HMS Defense had twin 9.2" and a 74.5ft beam. Obviously the former indicates the latter is not a minimum, but a 9 foot increase in beam may not be sufficient for quads.
Edit: Graf Spee had a 71ft beam for triple 11", but only two turrets, so you likely are in the right range.

Better belt, same barbette issue. Deck up to 4".
Still wet. Seakeeping minimal. Given the potential for North Atlantic ops, I'd figure these slower vessels might push towards better seakeeping.

C2
You say it has an extra quad. It looks to have 3 of them, just like C1. Not the same vessel, less displacement.
I see no real improvements for the tonnage saved, but the defenses are worse.

C3.
Like C2, C1, I think there may be a beam problem with the quads.
Belt got thicker, but shorter in height. Barbette ok, Deck down to 3.5". Depending on expected opposition armor is better...or worse than C1.

D1.
This has a slightly better beam.
Armor is now sufficient to deal with the various BCs. Barbette at 9" now matches belt. Was D1 an early version?
Cost of about 2,000 tons over C3. C3+Destroyer <> BC.
On the other hand, you're now pushing a 20,000 ton vessel, with no TDS. Thats more than HMS Bellepheron, and she had one.
I preferred the 180 misc. weight on the others. We're now far enough along we can see the advantage of expansion room, not to mention the increasing sensor weight.
I do not see why you increased cruising speed to 16knts.
Still getting that wet forward. I suspect you may know that.

E1.
I really don't care for this vessel.
The guns allow you to put the hurt onto any heavy cruiser, but the belt means they will do the same to you. The turret and barbette are worse, only the deck is near adequate, while the speed is low.

F1.
A 27,000 ton vessel with 9.2" guns is a poor allocation of resources, even for the UK, in my opinion.
It needs a Class 4 dock,
The armor is still only BC worthy, while the heavy firepower will have a hard time killing a similarly armored BC.
Speed is nothing special.
By holding the draft down, you've forced yourself to a high BC, giving you a BC much like USS South Dakota.
It's a battleship sized vessel, that can't really force any smaller craft to fight, and are unlikely to beat a similarly sized battleship- unless they are old and you can keep the range for deck shots.


Edit : Looking at Graf Spee, she had a 71 ft beam and triple 11", but only two turrets, so you likely are in the right range.

In Jan 41 a new requirement was released by the RN for a 57mm weapon with ceiling of 10,000ft and time to height of 5secs and 100rpm rate of fire. The guns themselves were fitted with Molin's autoloaders and weren't very succesful. The mountings were fitted with RPC (electric and hydraulic versions) and were capable of 25°/s traverse. In 1944 a low angle requirement was added to allow for use against torpedo boats. In late 1944 looking at new jet aircraft a new design was asked for the ability to engage a 600mph target at 400m which meant 45°/s traverse - out of range of the existing designs. None of the weapons built were satisfactory from a ballistics point of view or their mechanical reliability. They were also rather heavy and cumbersome and could not deliver the required rate of fire, mostly from trying to ham in an autoloader on a gun designed for hand loading. THe loading gear on the twin was extremely complex that rarely managed to perform for any length of time efore breaking down. THe project was finally killed in 1945.

A few years later the ratefixer program gave rise to autoloading 3.7" mk VI guns with 70rpm rate of fire and eventually Green Mace with 80-90rpm from a 4"-5" gun. They all got extremely large apart from the Longhand 3.7" which used a 6 round autoloader.

On the cruisers themselves, is there really any point when you can build a Vanguard-type ship for 40,000tons or a modern Renown for 32000tons?

Historically, yes, there are pretty serious difficulties with an autoloading cannon of over about 45mm up through the end of the war. However, here in WW, the Danes and Iberians have been using an autoloading 57mm mounting for some years now, so.....

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Historically, yes, there are pretty serious difficulties with an autoloading cannon of over about 45mm up through the end of the war. However, here in WW, the Danes and Iberians have been using an autoloading 57mm mounting for some years now, so.....

Lots of weapons have been placed in service that did not perform to expectations. Also, one nation may be successful and others not.

We should be looking to what is a reasonable 1943 weapon (laid down 1936, completed ~1938, +5 years for cutting edge aeronautical-related gear). Looking at RA's information, a 57mm autoloader was possible at that time, but had substantial limitations. It would be up to the RN if they wanted to mount such.

Theres a difference between the rates of fire. For a Bofors style weapon with 100-120rpm rate of fire then things get really hard with the technology. Actually, I'm pretty sure it could be done with using much stronger stainless steels but the cost would massively increase.

Something like the Molins with autoloader is far easier and manageable. Rate of fire being around 60rpm at most.

Then there are larger automatic weapons like the 3"/50RF with a 45-50rpm rate of fire, the BK75mm with 30rpm rate of fire in auto mode and the 102/35 used on the P.108 with 20rpm rate of fire. For the latter two blast effects become more troublesome so i'm pretty sure the rate of fire was limited. Theres also the Italian 65/64 automatic which was the first of the new generation with twin loading trays that was used to prototype the OTO 76/62 MMI boosting rof to 60rpm.

Quoted

Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk
We should be looking to what is a reasonable 1943 weapon (laid down 1936, completed ~1938, +5 years for cutting edge aeronautical-related gear).

Aaaaahhhhh...... Nicely done. A new interpretation of the advanced tech rule. This way you can use equipement on NAVAL designs 7+ years ahead of OTL. Just lay down the vessel, calculate completion date and add five years by mixing our agreement about planes with "aeronautical-related gear" on ships. Not bad, really not bad. ;o)^^

Heh sorry Hoo, I wasn't trying for a new intepretation at all. I'm not exactly in favor of advancing the tech beyond period.

However as a matter of the RN designers looking down the line and asking the question- can we expect to have a suitable weapon when the ship is commisioned? Then looking at it in this manner makes sense.

See, I was viewing it as the AA guns being among the last things bolted on. The RN can choose a weapon in development in 1936, continue to develop it for about 2 years, then attach it to the ship.

At that point the weapon is in service and must adhere to the ground rules relating to aeronautical related stuff.

From RA's material we see that it is possible to field such a weapon, it just will be rather limited and likely considered a failure, or the RN will choose to mount an alternate weapon at completion.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Historically, yes, there are pretty serious difficulties with an autoloading cannon of over about 45mm up through the end of the war. However, here in WW, the Danes and Iberians have been using an autoloading 57mm mounting for some years now, so.....

Only going into service in 1936 after years of testing, principally semi auto allowing only 50 rpm max.

Has someone done an SS2 of HMS Exeter already? I have a project I'm working on and I'm wondering if that part has been done (correctly) already. If so then I have one less step.

IIRC the Iberian (or Danish) 57mm was to be an adaptation from the existing semi-auto 57mm mount. Hand loading around 25-30rpm. The addition of a simple autoloader raising this to 50-60rpm. The reduced rate of fire being made up for by the one-hit-kill and better ASuW use.

Quoted

A new interpretation of the advanced tech rule.

I'm pretty sure that we're so different from OTL now that basing it exactly off it just won't work. I think _reasonable cause_ should be in place as well for more outlandish ideas.