WesWorld

1942 Naval Planning Committee

Construction continues on the five Admiral Class battleships. No further alterations have been made to the plans and construction continues on schedule for completion during 1945.
The Queen Elizabeth Class refit programme is now finished with work on the fifth ship, HMS Malaya now complete. HMS Invincible is under refit and should complete by the end of 1941.

The first two new fleet carriers (Carriers M & N) laid down as HMS Audacious and HMS Formidable have now been launched and so plans are going ahead to lay down carriers O & P (HMS Leviathan and HMS Magnificent) during 1942. Commander in Chief Fleet Air Aim Admiral R. G. H. Henderson and the Second Sea Lord agreed that of the proposed refits for the Ark Royal and Swiftsure classes only that of the newest three carriers should go ahead immediately. The DNC has prepared plans for the refit of the Swiftsure Class. The current 4.7in battery would be replaced by standard 4.5in DP twins, 2pdr (1941 pattern) single mounts would replace the current heavy machine-gun fit and the octuple 2pdr mounts would be replaced by 6pdr twins. New catapults would be fitted, an AIO installed in the hull linked to revised bridges. The new HACS Mk. IV would be fitted as would the latest radio-location types. This should prolong the life of the carriers until the early 1950s. Future fleet plans agreed by the Committee would likely be four Audacious, three Swiftsure, one Eagle, four Ocean and two 1945-Pattern light fleet carriers by 1948. The implication is that the Ark Royal and Majestic would be disposed of on completion of the second pair of Audacious Class carriers.
Two further light carriers (K & L) are still on hold, it is likely both will be ordered in 1945 as a new class. The DNC will shortly begin sketch outlines of proposed designs to submit to the Committee next year.

The cruiser programme remains paused until the new automatic 6in mount is ready. The DNO reported on progress so far. The DNC offered some sketch designs and one of them displacing 12,000 tons standard with four twin 6in automatic mounts with a speed of 33kts and 10,000nm range seemed the best among the various designs. This proposal will go forwards for detailed study. Work continues on the AA cruiser Minotaur Class programme. Plans that another five Minotaurs should be built during 1942-43 (for the Mediterranean Fleet) will go ahead pending funding availability and all five will be added to the Navy List for the Treasury to examine. Meanwhile efforts to bolster AA firepower in the Far East have seen the four H Class cruisers rebuilt into AA cruisers with equipment comparable to the Minotaurs. All four twin 6in turrets are replaced by Canadian 5.5in automatic twin mounts with all 4in twin and octuple 2pdr mounts replaced by twin 6pdr Mk III AA mounts with twelve of the new-pattern 2pdr mounts added (pre-production mounts by Vickers). The armour on the deck and barbettes has been increased with a CT added. The DME (Director of Mechanical Engineering) has managed to develop a smaller Minotaur Class machinery unit with uprated output and higher boiler pressure and fit it into the older design, although he has commented that reliability may not be as high as the Minotaur Class. Work has already begun and should complete during 1942.

The heavy cruiser programme is completed with the two Iron Duke Class cruisers now finished and undergoing working-up exercises. DNC submitted a new heavy cruiser design based on the hull form of the Howe Class with twin 8in guns of new pattern (not yet developed) but it was decided to defer all such ships. The DNO favoured the new automatic 6in mount as the superior weapon but the DGD was willing to investigate further the new Canadian automatic 7.5in gun which has now gone to sea. The DNC favoured the traditional gun given the larger magazines needed and the serious weight growth that automatic turrets would incur. Given the bulk of the four 9.2in cruisers he doubted that three-twin turret 7.5in armed ship would be any smaller. The Commander in Chief North Atlantic, Admiral Sir Martin Eric Dubar-Nasmith, has written in support of more heavy cruisers as oceanic cruisers able to interdict enemy convoys but the Commander in Chief Mediterranean, Admiral Andrew Cunningham, and the Commander in Chief Far East, Admiral Charles Morton Forbes, have rejected the heavy cruiser as an out-moded concept and generally poor value for money, especially as the automatic gun promises potentially much heavier firepower. With limited funds or tactical need it was decided to defer all decisions until at least 1943.

The N Class destroyers for 1942 are repeats of the M Class with identical armament.
The DNC has continued studies for a new fleet destroyer armed with the new 4.5in mounts now under development for the Admiral and Audacious Classes. The Committee confirmed its intention to pause building destroyers for three years and instead use the funds to refit the older X, Z, A, B, C and D classes for further service. The ‘Special’ discussed last year remains in the building programme for 1945.

The DNO drafted a new 2pdr specification during 1940 due to misgivings over the 0.661in HMG. Vickers has developed a new design with a 70-calibre barrel and a new 2pdr shell with improved shellform. The DNO confirmed that firing trials have already begun since Vickers has had a trouble-free development so far and the DGD also outlined the proposed single and twin mounts. No larger mounts (i.e. octuple etc.) are planned at the present time. The mounts will be developed as manual and powered mounts and will become uniform across the Navy by 1948.

The submarine programme has now restarted with the V Class finally being ordered to a revised design and construction being begun already under the 1941 Programme. The V Class is based on the U Class but is 1 foot beamier, has a stern 21in torpedo tube added and has two 1,000hp Paxman diesels. Ten are now under construction with no more planned at the current time.

Efforts to find ways of increasing MTB self-defence firepower have led to Vosper proposing to fit a 6pdr automatic gun to an MTB. The Vosper 75 Foot Type G is designed to be an escorting gunboat for MTB formations. It displaces some 38.5 tons, is powered by three 1100hp Rolls Royce Merlin IVN petrol engines for a speed of 33.5kts, and is armed with one 57mm Mk III automatic gun (basically a Mk II AA gun on a new and lighter LA mount), one single .661in Vickers HMG and two single .303in Vickers ‘K’ LMGs. One trials vessel will be built during late 1941.

There are quite a lot of large calibre automatic cannon being developed. Given their almost total lack of success historically, the various development programmes seem to be going swimmingly in WW. For instance, the RN had an experimental 4" automatic gun in 1939 which fired at pretty much the same rate as the hand loaded version but simply wasn't reliable. Getting up to 6" and 7.5" makes the problems much worse.

The 6in is some time off yet. If Canada makes the 7.5in work then of course the RN will look at it closer.

The Canadian 7.5" Automatic is being built on the work done developing and maturing the Canadian 5.5" automated gun that's been evolving in the RCN for the past 5-6 years or so; the first set is currently being trialed on HMCS Prince Edward Island, with the new Ontario-class planned to equip as well. the RCN is consulting with the USN BuOrd and the respective Commonwealth Ordance Boards in regard to the general field.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
There are quite a lot of large calibre automatic cannon being developed. Given their almost total lack of success historically, the various development programmes seem to be going swimmingly in WW. For instance, the RN had an experimental 4" automatic gun in 1939 which fired at pretty much the same rate as the hand loaded version but simply wasn't reliable. Getting up to 6" and 7.5" makes the problems much worse.

I would have to agree with the observation in general. One of the projects that I inherited from Hrolf was a German 15cm automatic gun that was to deploy in 1940. Given the problems with historical weapons, I considered the development cycle of three or so years that my predecessor had allowed to be far too short. One day it may emerge.

On the other hand, I do believe that given sufficient time and effort a large caliber automatic gun can be developed. Canada has been giving the project a considerable amount of time and effort and I think that Canada's approach to the problem is reasonable. Trials are underway with the 5.5in and it remains to be seen if they are fully successful.

When designers look to the future for the guns that will equip vessels due to complete five or more years out they have to run the risk that the guns might not be perfect. To do otherwise would leave us fighting with guns of Great War construction.

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan
Canada has been giving the project a considerable amount of time and effort and I think that Canada's approach to the problem is reasonable. Trials are underway with the 5.5in and it remains to be seen if they are fully successful.

To clarify, the Canadian 5.5" has gone through a couple of marks since 1933 (Manuals on the Argylls, early automation-assisted on the Labradors and other ships, and fully automatics on the Tribal IIs and IIIs, and everything since). Since Canada hasn't had any instances of the weapons being used in combat, and I didn't feel Canada would let news slip of them being anything less than effective, there hasn't been much discussion on how well they've performed. I have played under the assumption that the earliest installed mounts had definate teething problems, but by now they've been worked out, and performance has steadily improved. Likewise, I assume the PEI with the new 7.5" guns will have teething problems for some time, but have no real intention of making it a news item for the reasons listed above. I definately do not forsee the RCN being so disatisfied with the gun to warrant it's removal or replacement, but I'm open to someone convincing me that would be the result.

There is also a RN developed 4.5" automatic gun, which I believe the PEI is also trialing for the Crown, and planned for a couple ships

The problem with "not making it a news piece is" that we only read about an automated gun being developed and installed. All players must assume it is a succesful piece if there is not an OOC part linked to the news that immediately explains the tech is not yet fully understood, the mount a failure or the crews not yet trained to deal with the thing. Also, just saying "there are teething problems so the mount will not be effective" is a backdoor too easily used to get away with new tech early introduced after a short development period.

Don´t get me wrong, I´m not pointing fingers at any particular person here. It´s just a general observation.

See, I dare ask what is the idea behind such backdoor? Will a player that introduced automated guns and has its country go for war in early 1942 script a story where his most modern warships with automatic guns are crippled or sunk in battle because their main guns jam and they to not get a shot fired? That could be a reasonable result from those "teething problems" but I doubt we would see such a story. But that´s probably jus tme. In fact, we will never know because there wont be such conflict, but feel free use this scenario and ask yourself how far you would allow these "teething problems" to influence your scripting.

In the end, I even doubt the value of an automatic large bore gun as a ships main armament. There are more problems to it than "just" dealing with the mechanical system that feeds the gun automatically. How do you deal with smoke and heat? Have you considered bore evacuators? I have not yet read about it. Have you considered heat buildup and its influence on mount and shell performance and balistic?

Even today this is an issue for automated guns like the 155mm/L52 used for the German self-propelled artillery piece Panzerhaubitze 2000. The gun is capable of 3 shots / ten seconds but is in fact limited to 3 shots per minuted for prolonged fights due to heat build-up. That´s hardly any better than what a standard 15cm naval mount achieved in WW2 naval battles. So why accept complex machinery and limited number of barrels on a ship if the result is no better than using common gun mount design?

For the record, I'm operating under the assumption that the automatic weapons Canada (and by extention, what the British and Americans are working on) are similar to the Worchester/Des Moines style automatic weapons, or even the Tiger's 6" guns, rather than the compact, unmanned mounts of the post-war period to the present.

I don't view my comments on the early marks of Canada's automatic weapons as a 'backdoor', but as the reasonable conclusion considering Canada's been at or near the lead in developing complex, experimental, and historically finicky weapons. As noted, if Canada had been involved in hostilities while the weapons were still going through their breaking-in phase, I've always intended it to be reflected in the prose.

Beyond that, I haven't found it appropriate to discuss in Canadian News, due to how I write it; As news that the rest of the world would pick up on and digest. While it's more common today due to the change in social mores and influence of the media, I don't think it was really the norm for such problems to make it into the general news of the day.

That being said, I did my best to convey Canada's difficulty with developing the earliest mounts in my news dating back several years; the frequent explosions, unexplained loud noises, and other goings on that appearently earned me the Mad Scientist label to begin with.

The Z Class are due for rebuild next year but one vessel of the class will become a trials ship for the new 4.5in twin automatic mount.


Z Class HMS Zodiac, Great Britain Destroyer laid down 1928

Displacement:
1,557 t light; 1,606 t standard; 1,759 t normal; 1,881 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
383.01 ft / 375.00 ft x 33.00 ft x 12.50 ft (normal load)
116.74 m / 114.30 m x 10.06 m x 3.81 m

Armament:
2 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (1x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1943 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in a deck mount with hoist
on centreline forward
2 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (1x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in a deck mount with hoist
on centreline aft, all raised guns - superfiring
2 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns in single mounts, 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on centreline, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 98 lbs / 44 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 250
4 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 36,000 shp / 26,856 Kw = 34.05 kts
Range 5,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 275 tons

Complement:
135 - 176

Cost:
£0.729 million / $2.916 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 15 tons, 0.8 %
Armour: 6 tons, 0.3 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 6 tons, 0.3 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 887 tons, 50.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 489 tons, 27.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 202 tons, 11.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 160 tons, 9.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
473 lbs / 214 Kg = 10.4 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.32
Metacentric height 1.5 ft / 0.5 m
Roll period: 11.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.14
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.398
Length to Beam Ratio: 11.36 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.17 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 64 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 47
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: 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Mid (34 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m (11.00 ft / 3.35 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Stern: 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Average freeboard: 14.22 ft / 4.33 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 179.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 100.4 %
Waterplane Area: 7,896 Square feet or 734 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 70 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 32 lbs/sq ft or 155 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.51
- Longitudinal: 1.55
- Overall: 0.57
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Misc Weight
30 tons radio-location sets
40 tons ASDIC sets
20 tons for Parsnip
10 tons torpedo reloads and handling gear
50 tons CIC and new bridge spaces for ASDIC and Radio Location

Electronic Equipment
Search ASDIC Type 144
Depth Finding ASDIC Type 145
One Destroyer Search Type 276 set
One Gunnery Director Radio Location Type 286P set
One Gunnery Director Radio Location Type 282 set
HF/DF Type 292
Passive Radio Intercept Type 293 series

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
The Z Class are due for rebuild next year but one vessel of the class will become a trials ship for the new 4.5in twin automatic mount.

Is this the historical QF Mk V or something else?

I bear in mind that the RN historically tried a single 4" automatic gun in this time period. It didn't work reliably.

Two things strike me.

One - with only one pair of 4.5in DP, you can only engage one target at a time with long-range fire.

Two - given the degree to which the RN had been fitting the new 57mm gun, I am surprised that it has not be fitted here.

I see that quite a lot of weight is reserved for ASDIC gear, but the AS outfit isn't detailed; that could be a grace note issue, but it could be addressed.

As I understood it, it was an experimental mounting on one ship of the class that this sim represents. Generally, looking at the postwar frigates, even a single mounting on a ship this size when combined with light AA, torpedoes and a healthy radar and ASW fit seems like it might be getting overloaded.

Anti-Submarine fit is Parsnip, so no depth charges?

Zodiac will be a trials ship for the 4.5in MkV, new ASDIC and Parsnip. It has no DC's and the AA armament is the new pattern 1941 2pdr L/70.

She will test all these items as a sensible sea-going ship without the need to tie up younger ships or build a trials ship. I foresee no combat role but in an emergency she could be pressed into use as an escort. Generator capacity will be another issue and I may have to add some msic weight for that.

Here is the rebuild plan for the other vessels of the Z Class except Zodiac.

Z Class, Great Britain Destroyer laid down 1928 (Engine 1942)

Displacement:
1,561 t light; 1,624 t standard; 1,759 t normal; 1,867 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
383.01 ft / 375.00 ft x 33.00 ft x 12.50 ft (normal load)
116.74 m / 114.30 m x 10.06 m x 3.81 m

Armament:
4 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (2x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1936 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on centreline, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
2 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns in single mounts, 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 192 lbs / 87 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 250
4 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 36,000 shp / 26,856 Kw = 34.05 kts
Range 5,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 243 tons

Complement:
135 - 176

Cost:
£0.713 million / $2.853 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 24 tons, 1.4 %
Armour: 10 tons, 0.6 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 10 tons, 0.6 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 798 tons, 45.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 549 tons, 31.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 198 tons, 11.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 10.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
540 lbs / 245 Kg = 11.8 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
Metacentric height 1.3 ft / 0.4 m
Roll period: 12.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.33
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.398
Length to Beam Ratio: 11.36 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.17 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 64 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 49
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: 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Mid (34 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m (11.00 ft / 3.35 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Stern: 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Average freeboard: 14.22 ft / 4.33 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 168.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 100.4 %
Waterplane Area: 7,896 Square feet or 734 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 78 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 36 lbs/sq ft or 174 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.54
- Longitudinal: 1.67
- Overall: 0.60
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Misc Weight
30 tons radio-location sets
40 tons ASDIC sets
30 tons 64x DC with two racks and four DCT
20 tons for Parsnip
10 tons torpedo reloads and handling gear
50 tons CIC and new bridge spaces for ASDIC and Radio Location

Electronic Equipment
Search ASDIC Type 144
Depth Finding ASDIC Type 145
One Destroyer Search Type 276 set
One Gunnery Director Radio Location Type 286P set
One Gunnery Director Radio Location Type 282 set
HF/DF Type 292
Passive Radio Intercept Type 293 series

The four Y class destroyers will also get a makeover.

Y Class, Great Britain Destroyer laid down 1928

Displacement:
1,543 t light; 1,606 t standard; 1,759 t normal; 1,881 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
382.64 ft / 375.00 ft x 33.00 ft x 12.50 ft (normal load)
116.63 m / 114.30 m x 10.06 m x 3.81 m

Armament:
6 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (3x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1936 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, majority aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (2x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1936 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 280 lbs / 127 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 175
6 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 35,791 shp / 26,700 Kw = 34.00 kts
Range 5,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 275 tons

Complement:
135 - 176

Cost:
£0.782 million / $3.129 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 35 tons, 2.0 %
Armour: 7 tons, 0.4 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 7 tons, 0.4 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 865 tons, 49.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 555 tons, 31.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 216 tons, 12.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 80 tons, 4.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
472 lbs / 214 Kg = 10.4 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
Metacentric height 1.3 ft / 0.4 m
Roll period: 12.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.50
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.398
Length to Beam Ratio: 11.36 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.17 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 64 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 59
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: 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Mid (34 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m (11.00 ft / 3.35 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Stern: 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Average freeboard: 14.14 ft / 4.31 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 179.3 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 78.6 %
Waterplane Area: 7,896 Square feet or 734 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 68 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 36 lbs/sq ft or 176 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.53
- Longitudinal: 1.63
- Overall: 0.59
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

Refit notes
4.7in mounts replaced by 4.5in DP twin mounts
Two new pattern twin 2pdr L/70 AA mounts fitted to replace old qaud 2pdr
2 DCracks and two DCT for 32 DC
Asdic Type 142 added
Destroyer Search Type 275 set added
Destroyer Gunnery Type 286P added
Gunnery Director Type 282 added

A proposed rebuild for the Howe Class of heavy cruisers to keep them competitive.

Howe Class, Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1927 (Engine 1942)

Displacement:
9,910 t light; 10,387 t standard; 11,865 t normal; 13,048 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
615.64 ft / 610.00 ft x 68.25 ft x 19.00 ft (normal load)
187.65 m / 185.93 m x 20.80 m x 5.79 m

Armament:
8 - 8.00" / 203 mm guns (4x2 guns), 290.00lbs / 131.54kg shells, 1927 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, 1938 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, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
12 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.95lbs / 0.88kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 2,753 lbs / 1,249 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
6 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 100.00 ft / 30.48 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
210.00 ft / 64.01 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 76 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 88,058 shp / 65,692 Kw = 31.35 kts
Range 10,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,662 tons

Complement:
567 - 738

Cost:
£3.380 million / $13.519 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 310 tons, 2.6 %
Armour: 1,780 tons, 15.0 %
- Belts: 496 tons, 4.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 222 tons, 1.9 %
- Armour Deck: 1,050 tons, 8.9 %
- Conning Tower: 11 tons, 0.1 %
Machinery: 2,300 tons, 19.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,390 tons, 45.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,955 tons, 16.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 130 tons, 1.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
20,264 lbs / 9,191 Kg = 79.2 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
Metacentric height 3.9 ft / 1.2 m
Roll period: 14.6 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 69 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.63
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.40

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.525
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.94 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 24.70 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 49
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (50 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Stern: 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Average freeboard: 25.18 ft / 7.67 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 85.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 201.7 %
Waterplane Area: 28,384 Square feet or 2,637 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 132 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 116 lbs/sq ft or 567 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.92
- Longitudinal: 2.00
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Refit Notes:

Replacement of 4in twins with 4,5in DP twin mounts
Replacement of 2pdr octuple mounts with 6pdr twin mounts
Addition of six twin 2pdr L/70 mounts
Removal of third aircraft
2 inch extra armour on main turret fronts and 1 inch on the roofs
1 inch extra armour on the main deck
New turbines and boilers
Two HACS Mk.IV
Radio-Location sets: one Type 284, one Type 285M, two Type 282M, one Type 283, one Type 276, one Type 271M, Passive Radio Intercept Type 293 (P,Q,M) and Passive RDF Intercept Type 294 and 294M

The final ship in the Z Class will be refitted to a lesser standard with no new engines and some modest improvements in armament (three 6in singles were also planned for her) to serve in an overseas capacity as a general purpose type.

Z Class (Zambezi), Great Britain Destroyer laid down 1928

Displacement:
1,543 t light; 1,606 t standard; 1,759 t normal; 1,881 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
383.01 ft / 375.00 ft x 33.00 ft x 12.50 ft (normal load)
116.74 m / 114.30 m x 10.06 m x 3.81 m

Armament:
6 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (3x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1936 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, majority forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.07kg shells, 1941 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 279 lbs / 126 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 175
6 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 36,000 shp / 26,856 Kw = 34.05 kts
Range 5,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 275 tons

Complement:
135 - 176

Cost:
£0.781 million / $3.122 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 35 tons, 2.0 %
Armour: 13 tons, 0.7 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 13 tons, 0.7 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 863 tons, 49.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 536 tons, 30.5 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 216 tons, 12.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 96 tons, 5.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
452 lbs / 205 Kg = 9.9 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.24
Metacentric height 1.4 ft / 0.4 m
Roll period: 11.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.50
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.398
Length to Beam Ratio: 11.36 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.17 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 64 %
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: 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Mid (34 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m (11.00 ft / 3.35 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Stern: 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Average freeboard: 14.22 ft / 4.33 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 179.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 78.6 %
Waterplane Area: 7,896 Square feet or 734 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 67 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 35 lbs/sq ft or 170 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.50
- Longitudinal: 1.55
- Overall: 0.56
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

Misc Weight
25 tons radio-location sets
20 tons ASDIC set
20 tons 32x DC with two racks and four DCT
16 tons torpedo handling gear
15 tons rebuilt bridge with RDF and Asdic rooms

Electronic Equipment
Search ASDIC Type 143
One Destroyer Search Type 276 set
One Gunnery Director Radio Location Type 286P set
One Gunnery Director Radio Location Type 282 set
HF/DF Type 292

Totally OOC, my naming conventions for the Colony Class were a little out and several of them are not actually British colonies in WW so now the ships will be henchforth from this quarter be known as;

HMS Jamaica, Bermuda, Togo (ex-Gambia), Nigeria, Namibia (ex-Mauritius), Guyana (ex-Newfoundland), Uganda, Kenya (ex-Fiji), Sudan (ex-Trinidad) and Burma

There should be no IC problems with these changes, the reports will be out a little but the encloypedia has been updated and so these new names can be taken as the original proper names.

Since you're already going to the trouble of a 50% Partial Rebuild, why not fix the horrendous belt armor while you're at it?

Quoted

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 100.00 ft / 30.48 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
210.00 ft / 64.01 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 76 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

Yeah there's not too much growth left in the design. It's a choice between beefing up the decks and the belt. I felt the 1in deck was the worst area and so I've added an inch to it. Note the belt layout, the 4in end belts represent the box armour around the magazines so the 2in belt would be over the machinery spaces.