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Saturday, May 28th 2011, 12:05am

Corvettes

Monarch, Thai Escort/Patrol Corvette laid down 1941

Displacement:
750 t light; 785 t standard; 895 t normal; 984 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
206.69 ft / 196.85 ft x 31.17 ft x 9.84 ft (normal load)
63.00 m / 60.00 m x 9.50 m x 3.00 m

Armament:
1 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 30.86lbs / 14.00kg shells, 1941 Model
Dual purpose gun in a deck mount with hoist
on centreline forward
6 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (3x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1941 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline, all amidships, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1941 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
Weight of broadside 67 lbs / 30 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 350

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.79" / 20 mm 0.20" / 5 mm 0.79" / 20 mm
2nd: 0.39" / 10 mm - 0.79" / 20 mm
3rd: 0.20" / 5 mm - -

- Conning tower: 1.18" / 30 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 3,201 ihp / 2,388 Kw = 18.06 kts
Range 5,000nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 199 tons

Complement:
81 - 106

Cost:
£0.358 million / $1.431 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 8 tons, 0.9 %
Armour: 6 tons, 0.7 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 4 tons, 0.4 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 2 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 176 tons, 19.6 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 295 tons, 33.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 145 tons, 16.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 265 tons, 29.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
1,085 lbs / 492 Kg = 35.6 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 1.0 ft / 0.3 m
Roll period: 12.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.16
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.26

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
Block coefficient: 0.519
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.32 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 14.03 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 39
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 2.26 ft / 0.69 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 13.12 ft / 4.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 11.48 ft / 3.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 11.48 ft / 3.50 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 6.56 ft / 2.00 m (11.48 ft / 3.50 m before break)
- Stern: 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
- Average freeboard: 10.88 ft / 3.32 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 104.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 112.3 %
Waterplane Area: 4,160 Square feet or 386 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 130 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 44 lbs/sq ft or 214 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.88
- Longitudinal: 3.18
- Overall: 1.01
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

After the defense review conducted in late 1940, one thing became clear to the Thai Navy. During wartime and peacetime, there was a sever lack of light craft. With the needs of escorting the two new aircraft carriers purchased from Italy predicted to take up most of the small flotilla of destroyers at any time, and the inability of domestic Thai yards to build modern types in any significant number, a different solution was needed. Due to the demands that this new ship would have to fulfill, it was quickly apparent that the high speed that was inherent of modern Destroyers was unneeded. Sub-hunting was considered to be the primary role along with patrol and other coast guard like duties, none of which require high speed. With this in mind, Thai designers chose to look at the characteristics that defined the emergency escort vessels built during the Great War. The Monarch class embodies all of the roles that the ships need to handle. One 100mm gun is adiquit for all patrol and coastguard duties, while still being powerful for taking on surfaced submarines. Many depth charges are cared for causing havoc to submerged submarines as well. A heavy 57mm dual purpose anti-aircraft battery is also carried to aid in the neutralization of surface threats and to provide defense against aircraft along with 20mm cannon. The Monarchs are also equipped with many advanced features, and the ability to take on more gear then is currently available. While they may not be a match for a true destroyer, the Monarch class corvettes allow the Thai navy the flexibility with how it deploys its destroyers wile still providing essential duties that are invaluable in times of peace and war.
You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.
-Siegfried Sassoon