WesWorld

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
I can the Adriatic being the main playground for Italian MAS, and protecting the Italian Aegean islands.

Uh, this is Wesworld - Italy doesn't have any islands in the Aegean.

That aside, while employment in the Adriatic might make sense, certainly huge numbers would not make sense. The Yugoslav Navy is not capable of significant power projection to threaten the Italian Coast; Italian bases on the eastern coast of the Adriatic are far more vulnerable to Yugoslav land assault or air attack.

Hmmm...after some thought, what about this.

I really like the MAS-552 design as a cheep option. I feel there is still a place for a small, fast attack boat. It carries a 25mm cannon (historically 20mm, revised for WW), so is able to at least defend itself.

Looking around at what others have, I think a design in the ~90-120t range is approperate. Right now, Im thinking an updated version of this design. Mostly, the update would be to armament as the 47mm gun has been replace by a 37mm gun. A single 37mm backed up by 4x25mm guns should be plenty for dealing with other MTBs.

Looking at something else. Most of the information that exits on the current Italian fleet train points to them being small, limited use ships. This would be used to replace these old converted ships with something more modern. There would be variants dedicated to carring oil, water, supplies, and other important things to fleet operation away from port. Note I have yet to break it down, but the simed fuel represents both low stowed cargo (with type specific to the purpace of the hull) and bunker fuel for the ship.

Caretaker, Italian Light Fleet Tender laid down 1944

Displacement:
2,850 t light; 2,992 t standard; 6,892 t normal; 10,012 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
387.14 ft / 380.58 ft x 45.93 ft x 19.69 ft (normal load)
118.00 m / 116.00 m x 14.00 m x 6.00 m

Armament:
4 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns in single mounts, 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread
4 - 0.98" / 25.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.48lbs / 0.22kg shells, 1944 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on centreline, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 8 lbs / 4 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 750

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.51" / 13 mm - -
2nd: 0.24" / 6 mm - -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 9,000 shp / 6,714 Kw = 18.05 kts
Range 75,000nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 7,021 tons

Complement:
377 - 491

Cost:
£0.893 million / $3.573 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1 tons, 0.0 %
Armour: 1 tons, 0.0 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 1 tons, 0.0 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 230 tons, 3.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,443 tons, 20.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,042 tons, 58.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 1,175 tons, 17.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
21,682 lbs / 9,835 Kg = 14,028.8 x 1.5 " / 37 mm shells or 4.8 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
Roll period: 12.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has raised forecastle, raised quarterdeck
Block coefficient: 0.701
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.29 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 19.51 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 46 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 4.63 ft / 1.41 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 22.15 ft / 6.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.15 ft / 6.75 m (13.12 ft / 4.00 m aft of break)
- Mid (50 %): 13.12 ft / 4.00 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.15 ft / 6.75 m (13.12 ft / 4.00 m before break)
- Stern: 22.15 ft / 6.75 m
- Average freeboard: 16.28 ft / 4.96 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 31.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 93.0 %
Waterplane Area: 14,024 Square feet or 1,303 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 419 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 62 lbs/sq ft or 302 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.68
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

A thought on the escort class mentioned in the OP.

G Class, Italian Corvette laid down 1944

Displacement:
690 t light; 723 t standard; 868 t normal; 984 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
206.68 ft / 196.85 ft x 29.53 ft x 8.20 ft (normal load)
63.00 m / 60.00 m x 9.00 m x 2.50 m

Armament:
1 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 33.07lbs / 15.00kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose gun in a deck mount with hoist
on centreline forward
6 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (3x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 0.98" / 25.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.48lbs / 0.22kg shells, 1944 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 46 lbs / 21 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.18" / 30 mm 0.79" / 20 mm 0.79" / 20 mm
2nd: 0.39" / 10 mm 0.39" / 10 mm -
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators plus batteries,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 3,500 shp / 2,611 Kw = 18.29 kts
Range 8,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 260 tons

Complement:
79 - 103

Cost:
£0.278 million / $1.110 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 5 tons, 0.6 %
Armour: 10 tons, 1.1 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 6 tons, 0.7 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 4 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 89 tons, 10.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 326 tons, 37.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 178 tons, 20.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 260 tons, 30.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
1,962 lbs / 890 Kg = 64.3 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
Metacentric height 1.0 ft / 0.3 m
Roll period: 12.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.13
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.83

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
Block coefficient: 0.637
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.67 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 14.03 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 63 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 28
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.36 ft / 0.11 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 8.20 ft / 2.50 m (14.76 ft / 4.50 m before break)
- Stern: 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Average freeboard: 13.91 ft / 4.24 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 73.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 156.7 %
Waterplane Area: 4,401 Square feet or 409 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 176 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 39 lbs/sq ft or 192 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.81
- Longitudinal: 6.32
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

The question I have with the G-class design is whether the primary threat to Italian shipping comes from beneath the waves or above the waves?

Technically the design is a very good one; quite weatherly, an excellent anti-submarine craft, decent radius of action. But its ability to defend itself or its charges from air attack seems limited. While the single 100mm gun can reach out to cover the ships being escorted, the light AA outfit can only defend the ship itself.

Does the Italian Navy perceive a significant submarine threat? If so, from whom?

A good set of questions. Italy sees both above and below water threats as concerns to shipping, but sees the below water threats as the most presistant and harder to counter without dedicated assets. While the threat presented by airpower is large, most every ship in the Mariana Militare is at least capable (or will be after refits) of defending itself from air attack, and most are capable of defending other ships as well when deployed in groups. The Portaerei also play a huge role in air defense by giving organic air cover to combat fleets (Primarily Francesco Morosini, Aquila Class, Guiseppe Garibaldi Class, Andrea Doria Class) and logistics and commerce (Primarily Pisa Class).

The same cannot be said for ASW. The design requirements for AWS craft are never exactly in line with that of a AA escort. AWS ships need to be equipped with specialty electronics that require different considerations to there operation then that of AA armament. An example of this as it pretanes to the G Class and some of the preceding Italian designs is the inclusion of quite electric drives that can run off batteries for more effective use of sonar. This necessitates the hulls being designed for lower operational speeds, which is opposite the sort of speed I would want in a AA escort of this size. ASW ships should also be cheep so there can be greater coverage. With the advent of shipborne radar to its current extent, it is theoretically possible for a small force to be totally deployed in the best position to thwart a oncoming air attack due to the advanced warning. No such theoretical abilities exist with regards to ASW work, hence the need for more hulls to cover all approaches.

Another roll of these Corvettes (and the others of the type) is to ensure that there are always available hulls for providing escort, coast guard duties, and other common tasks in peace and war, without dipping into the ranks of Fleet destroyers whose speed is required when it comes to escorting cruisers or the battle fleet, unless necessary. The slower corvettes are smaller, cheaper and therefore can be built in greater numbers. With this in mind, I agree that the given AA battery is a bit on the small side, and the design will be updated with a greater AA battery most likely at the expense of some misc weight when I can get in front of SS again this evening.

TL;DR version: AA can be done by most any ship, ASW cant. Cheap ASW corvettes ensure there are enough escorts for civies and Navy ships. G Class will get more AA to help whit multipurpose use.

Italy in WW has always taken submarine threats seriously and were first to develop ahead-throwing and rocket ASW armaments with sonar tech to match. Snip's analysis makes sense, ASW and AA are different, all an ASW corvette can do is defend itself and the merchants nearest to it. I would think most convoys would only be covering short distances (relatively) and escort needs might be lower than most other major powers so AA escorts could be provided.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Italy in WW has always taken submarine threats seriously and were first to develop ahead-throwing and rocket ASW armaments with sonar tech to match. Snip's analysis makes sense, ASW and AA are different, all an ASW corvette can do is defend itself and the merchants nearest to it. I would think most convoys would only be covering short distances (relatively) and escort needs might be lower than most other major powers so AA escorts could be provided.

Another benifit of that (relatively) short convoy route is that it will for the most part be under the cover of land based air, or at least air-based patrol and air-search planes. That goes a long way in helping both AA and (eventually) ASW workloads.

90t MTB design. No designation yet, not sure if they will get built. Do the specs look reasonable?

Length: 33m
Beam: 5.25m
Draft: 1.4m
Displacement: 90t

Engines: Three 1860hp Fiat A.38 (Or three Isotta-Fraschini 2040hp diesels)
Top Speed: 40knts (43knts with diesels)
Range: 350nm @35knt (450nm with diesels)

Guns: 1x37mm, 2x25mm
Torpedo: 2x600mm (two tubes, no reloads)

WW-Speced MAS-552 Class

Length: 18.75m
Beam: 4.5m
Draft: 1.5m
Displacement: 29.5t

Engines: Two 2400hp Fiat A.38/2a
Top Speed: 43knt
Range: 395nm @42knt

Guns: 1x25mm, 1x8mm
Torpedo: 2x450mm (two launchers, no reloads)

On the first boat, I'd think the speed would be lower with diesels, since IIRC diesels provide less horsepower per unit of weight of the engine. (That's why petrol engines stayed around as long as they did: you can get get more horsepower for less weight than with a diesel.) Not sure the slight rise in horsepower between the petrol and diesel would net you much, if anything, in the way of speed.

Ok, does this look better?

Length: 33m
Beam: 5.25m
Draft: 1.5m
Displacement: 90t

Engines: Three Isotta-Fraschini 2040hp diesels
Top Speed: 41knts
Range: 450nm @35knt

Guns: 1x37mm, 2x25mm
Torpedo: 2x600mm (two tubes, no reloads)

Probably so, yes.

For the record, given what RA had posted as active MAS boats in the ency, Italy currently has 323 MAS boats in service. No construction dates are given for any of these ships in the ency. Right now, I am thinking about replacing about 176 of these boats with the two types (90t and 29.5t) outlined above. This would be done starting in Q3/44 at the rate of 25 boats per quarter. The ratio I am aiming for is about 1.5:1 for the 29.5t:90t, so 70 of the 90t boats and 106 of the 29.5t boats. This is a total cost of 9,427t over 8 quarters (two year program), or ~1,178t a quarter. Thoughts on this program?

I think having half the number of MAS makes sense, 323 was perhaps a bit optimistic in terms of need and drain on manpower and resources. I think your mix of 90t and 29.5t boats is probably about right. 9,427 tons over two years is an expensive programme (3x DD or a CL in equivalent terms) which I think shows the dangers of large MTB fleets and block obsolescence. I just wonder whether you shouldn't extend the programme over three years to give you some leeway when you come to replace these new boats in 5-7 years time?

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
I think having half the number of MAS makes sense, 323 was perhaps a bit optimistic in terms of need and drain on manpower and resources. I think your mix of 90t and 29.5t boats is probably about right. 9,427 tons over two years is an expensive programme (3x DD or a CL in equivalent terms) which I think shows the dangers of large MTB fleets and block obsolescence. I just wonder whether you shouldn't extend the programme over three years to give you some leeway when you come to replace these new boats in 5-7 years time?

Its interesting when you give the 5-7 year expected lifespan of a MAS boat, as some of the oldest boats still in service was built in 1928 (thank you Brock for looking up that little tidbit) As it stands going into the latter half of 1944, the Italian MAS fleet is ether rather old (MAS 38m among others), small with limited capabilities (MAS 431), slow (MAS 701), or so flat out mechanically impossible for our time-frame that I cannot in good faith expect them to be successful designs (MAS 901). Given all of that, I think planing on the program taking two years is best, as the existing boats are not anywhere near as capable as they are on paper. After all, if I need to shift tonnage around I can extend the amount of time spent rebuilding the MAS fleet easier then I can contract it. At this point in my late 1944-1946 plan, the 1223t/Q hit (at peak production rates) is something I can afford.

I can't think of many MTBs that had long lives. Most of the WW1 vessels had gone by the early 1920s and most WW2 vessels quickly were retired. Some of this was changing needs and doctrines but even interwar boats (the few that were built) don't seem to have lasted long. I guess a wooden hull well looked after should last as long as any yacht etc. and petrol engines could be changed but scrapping seems more a more likely fate. Perhaps replacement was deemed cheaper.

I think my response was poorly worded. The point I ment to get at was that some of the Italian MAS boats currently in service have been around since 1928 with what seems to be very little, if any, upkeep during that time. At this point, replacement is, IMO, a wiser path to take then to try and get the existing boats up to modern standards.

Revised G Class Corvette. Added two twin 37mm mounts, shaved a bit of misc weight and added a Transom to increase the area on the stern for ASW weapons. Also managed to shave 90t.

G Class, Italian Corvette laid down 1944

Displacement:
600 t light; 634 t standard; 748 t normal; 840 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
206.68 ft / 196.85 ft x 31.17 ft x 8.20 ft (normal load)
63.00 m / 60.00 m x 9.50 m x 2.50 m

Armament:
1 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 33.07lbs / 15.00kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose gun in a deck mount with hoist
on centreline forward
10 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (5x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 0.98" / 25.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.48lbs / 0.22kg shells, 1944 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 52 lbs / 24 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.18" / 30 mm 0.79" / 20 mm 0.79" / 20 mm
2nd: 0.39" / 10 mm 0.39" / 10 mm -
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators plus batteries,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 2,500 shp / 1,865 Kw = 18.28 kts
Range 8,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 206 tons

Complement:
70 - 92

Cost:
£0.237 million / $0.946 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 6 tons, 0.8 %
Armour: 10 tons, 1.4 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 7 tons, 0.9 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 3 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 64 tons, 8.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 314 tons, 42.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 148 tons, 19.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 205 tons, 27.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
2,060 lbs / 934 Kg = 67.5 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 1.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
Metacentric height 1.1 ft / 0.3 m
Roll period: 12.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.12
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.85

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.520
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.32 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 16.62 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 27
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.36 ft / 0.11 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 8.20 ft / 2.50 m (14.76 ft / 4.50 m before break)
- Stern: 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Average freeboard: 13.58 ft / 4.14 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 66.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 174.1 %
Waterplane Area: 4,333 Square feet or 403 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 190 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 41 lbs/sq ft or 199 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.82
- Longitudinal: 6.14
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

A 495t version to ensure quick build times. Not sure if its worth the tradeoff from the 600t design.

G Class (495t Light), Italian Corvette laid down 1944

Displacement:
495 t light; 526 t standard; 631 t normal; 715 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
190.28 ft / 180.45 ft x 26.25 ft x 8.20 ft (normal load)
58.00 m / 55.00 m x 8.00 m x 2.50 m

Armament:
1 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 33.07lbs / 15.00kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose gun in a deck mount with hoist
on centreline forward
10 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (5x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 0.98" / 25.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.48lbs / 0.22kg shells, 1944 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 52 lbs / 24 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500

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

- Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators plus batteries,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 2,235 shp / 1,667 Kw = 18.00 kts
Range 8,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 189 tons

Complement:
62 - 81

Cost:
£0.205 million / $0.822 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 6 tons, 1.0 %
Armour: 8 tons, 1.3 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 5 tons, 0.8 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 3 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 57 tons, 9.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 263 tons, 41.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 136 tons, 21.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 160 tons, 25.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
1,618 lbs / 734 Kg = 53.0 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
Metacentric height 0.8 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 12.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.21
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.569
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.88 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 15.69 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 25
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.36 ft / 0.11 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 8.20 ft / 2.50 m (14.76 ft / 4.50 m before break)
- Stern: 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Average freeboard: 13.58 ft / 4.14 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 67.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 158.9 %
Waterplane Area: 3,503 Square feet or 325 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 190 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 36 lbs/sq ft or 176 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.78
- Longitudinal: 9.24
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

A late addition to the 1944 batch of ships. Italy needs a new training CV, and this update of the design that was sold to Peru should do nicely. It carries a standard AA fit to allow it to serve as a aircraft ferry in wartime, as well as other roles. I may build a second on as well outfitted as a combat ship for service in the Indian Ocean, so both a Combat and Training fit are presented for Misc weight.


Giuseppe Cei, Italia Aircraft Carrier laid down 1944

Displacement:
16,000 t light; 16,446 t standard; 18,898 t normal; 20,860 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
656.17 ft / 639.76 ft x 85.30 ft x 23.95 ft (normal load)
200.00 m / 195.00 m x 26.00 m x 7.30 m

Armament:
8 - 2.99" / 76.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 13.39lbs / 6.08kg shells, 1944 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (4x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (24x2 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1944 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 144 lbs / 65 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 700

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 1.18" / 30 mm 415.85 ft / 126.75 m 11.09 ft / 3.38 m
Ends: 1.18" / 30 mm 223.88 ft / 68.24 m 11.09 ft / 3.38 m
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.57" / 40 mm 415.85 ft / 126.75 m 21.19 ft / 6.46 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.39" / 10 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
2nd: 0.39" / 10 mm 0.39" / 10 mm -
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 84,000 shp / 62,664 Kw = 30.05 kts
Range 8,238nm at 20.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,414 tons

Complement:
805 - 1,047

Cost:
£5.904 million / $23.616 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 21 tons, 0.1 %
Armour: 2,989 tons, 15.8 %
- Belts: 341 tons, 1.8 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 514 tons, 2.7 %
- Armament: 15 tons, 0.1 %
- Armour Deck: 2,077 tons, 11.0 %
- Conning Tower: 42 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,145 tons, 11.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,645 tons, 29.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,898 tons, 15.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 5,200 tons, 27.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
31,438 lbs / 14,260 Kg = 2,347.2 x 3.0 " / 76 mm shells or 5.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.6 m
Roll period: 15.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.01
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.28

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has raised forecastle
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.506
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.50 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.54 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 47
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.87 ft / 1.18 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 34.45 ft / 10.50 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 34.45 ft / 10.50 m (19.69 ft / 6.00 m aft of break)
- Mid (50 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Stern: 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Average freeboard: 22.64 ft / 6.90 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 177.1 %
Waterplane Area: 38,027 Square feet or 3,533 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 149 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 105 lbs/sq ft or 512 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.32
- 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

60 Combat-ready Aircraft (3600t) (Actual practical compliment ~48 aircraft as warship, ~24 as a training ship)
10 Crated spares, spare parts and workshop equipment (1000t)
Electronics Fit (200t)
Inert Gas sheilding for AVGAS storrage and transfer lines (50t)
Small Aircraft Operations Center (100t)
One Catapult (25t)

Warship Variant
Enhanced crew comfort (50t)
Enhanced Tropicalization (50t)
Underway Refueling equipment (50t)
Flag Facilities (25t)

Training ship variant
Classrooms, simulators, other educational equipment and Cadet accomidation (175t)