WesWorld

Specifically, about putting torpedo bulkheads on smaller carriers. If so, point me to the thread, please. If not:

I'm working on a ~16,000 t CV, with a beam in the 23 to 24 metre range. All other things being equal, I can either have a speed of around 30.5 knots and a TB, or a speed of ~31.7 knots without it. Resistance to torpedo damage doesn't appreciably change, though I'm inclined to think that the "no TB" version will be better off.

Thoughts?

D K Brown says that torpedo bulkheads are best only for ships with greater than 80ft beam i.e. 24m Its in Nelson to Vanguard if you want a look.

The version with a TB will be better off. A torpedo hits the outer hull and sends splinters inboard. The TB stops these splinters and lessens the damage to the ship. With no TB the damage is greater but there is more room to absorb that damage.

You could always build Alaska which lacks any TDS, probably still better than Tegetthoff though.

Alioth displaces 13,000 tons, has a beam of 72 feet and has no torpedo bulkhead. It all depends what you want with a 16,000 ton carrier, speed or survivability.

I'm assuming your design due to its tonnage would have a beam of arround 80 feet so if you go by D K Brown's rule of thumb she gets a TB.

Depends on the hull form I'm working with from moment to moment. It can be anywhere from about 74 feet to 82 feet.

The current version has an 82'/25 m beam, and I'm generally satisfied with it...though I'm amused to see it's slightly shorter than the smaller Urumi.

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
Depends on the hull form I'm working with from moment to moment. It can be anywhere from about 74 feet to 82 feet.

The current version has an 82'/25 m beam, and I'm generally satisfied with it...though I'm amused to see it's slightly shorter than the smaller Urumi.

Whats also amusing is the fact that the U.S.S. Ranger was longer in the hull than the Wasp, but had a shorter flight deck.

So this is where I'm at for the (relatively) big CV:

16,490 t standard / 18,744 t normal
19,400 nm @ 12 knots (which is about 12,000 nm @ 15 knots, incidently, so it's not that outrageous)
5 cm belt, CT, TB; 7 cm deck
65 planes
30.54 knots
2.6 torpedoes or 7782 kg of lead to sink

I also simmed out a CVL for giggles, of which I could build three rather than two of the above. Essentially, it's an Urumi with the gun-laden stern chopped off:

10,992 t standard / 12854 t normal
20000 nm @ 12 knots
6 cm belt, deck, and CT; no TB
40 planes
32.02 knots
2.0 torpedoes or 8006 kg of lead to sink

Thoughts? The little CVL intrigues me - if it truly can handle 40 A/C, three of them would offer a fast and flexible striking force. On the other hand, I'd be concerned that they would be too small to handle the larger aircraft of the near future.

Sounds like the Independence-class light carriers. They had about that tonnage and speed and 33 "modern" aircraft on a light cruiser hull.

I had that thought as well, though I haven't been able to check my references to see just how close they are.

I like the notion of being able to send them off in three different directions to hit targets, but I'd be concerned that individually, they're outclassed by nearly any carrier you could name.

Edit: Just checked a site. There's actually quite a close resemblance in dimensions...perhaps the old design I started with was based on Independence.

But they have to hit three targets instead of two. Also if you loose one or two, you potentally have a place to land your planes....asssuming they are operating together.

Of course the light carrier was designed to carry mostly fighters, with some bombers for scouting and hitting targets of opportunity.

Independence-class Light Aircraft Carrier

Length: 622.5 feet (189.7 meters)
Beam: 71.5 feet (21.8 meters)
Draft: 25 feet 2 inches (7.7 meters)
Displacement: 11,000 tons standard, 15,100 tons full load
Propulsion: 100,000 shp/4 screws
Speed: 31.6 knots
Compliment: 1569 officers and men
Aircraft: 33 (24 F6F Hellcats and Nine TBF Avengers)
(Note: They were going to have SBD Dauntless bombers onboard but the Dauntless does not have folding wings...otherwise the light carriers would have matched the fleet carriers in compliment stlye, but on a smaller scale.)
Armament: 26 x 40mm guns and 16 x 20 mm guns (Note: originally had 18 x 40 mm, 16 x 20 mm, and 2 x 5"/51 cal cannon (1 bow and 1 stern), but the 5 inch were only mounted on the first ship, and only for a very short amount of time, being replaced by quad 40mm mounts.)

The Saipan-class was slighter larger and faster, and had better protection.

Of course the Independence-class ships were converted cruisers - a keel-up carrier of the same size will probably have a tad more plane capacity.

Independence-class "as-built" design characteristics:
(A light cruiser - Cleveland-class - conversion)
Nine ships

Displacement: 11,000 tons (standard)

Dimensions: 622' 6" (length overall); 71' 6" (hull); 109' 2" (over flight deck and projections)

Powerplant: 100,000 horsepower, steam turbines, four propellers, 31.5 knot maximum speed

Aircraft (Typical operational complement, October 1944): 34 planes, including 25 F6F fighters and 9 TBM torpedo planes.
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Saipan-class "as-built" design characteristics:
(A heavy cruiser - Baltimore-class - based design)
Two ships.

Displacement: 14,500 tons (standard)

Dimensions: 683' 7" (length overall); 76' 8" (hull); 108' (over flight deck and projections)

Powerplant: 120,000 horsepower, steam turbines, four propellers, 33 knot maximum speed

Aircraft: planned complement of 42 planes, including 18 fighters, 12 scout-bombers and 12 torpedo planes.