WesWorld

Aspern, German Air Defence Cruiser laid down 1946

Displacement: 6,200 t light; 6,696 t standard; 7,521 t normal; 8,181 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

516.26 ft / 508.53 ft x 55.77 ft x 17.22 ft (normal load) [157.36 m / 155.00 m x 17.00 m x 5.25 m]

Armament:

12 - 5.04" / 128 mm guns (6x2 guns), 63.99lbs / 29.03kg shells, 1946 Model Automatic rapid fire guns in deck mounts with hoists on centreline ends, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 2.17" / 55.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 5.08lbs / 2.30kg shells, 1945 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
4 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1940 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 850 lbs / 386 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 700
8 - 21.0" / 533 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:

Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 2.36" / 60 mm 328.08 ft / 100.00 m 11.48 ft / 3.50 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 99 % of normal length

Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
2nd: 0.59" / 15 mm 0.59" / 15 mm -
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

Armour deck: 1.57" / 40 mm, Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm

Machinery:

Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, Geared drive, 2 shafts, 66,983 shp / 49,970 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 9,300nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,485 tons

Complement: 403 - 524

Cost: £3.947 million / $15.787 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 125 tons, 1.7 %
Armour: 1,041 tons, 13.8 %
- Belts: 375 tons, 5.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 56 tons, 0.7 %
- Armour Deck: 594 tons, 7.9 %
- Conning Tower: 16 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 1,673 tons, 22.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,061 tons, 40.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,321 tons, 17.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 300 tons, 4.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship): 11,764 lbs / 5,336 Kg = 183.9 x 5.0 " / 128 mm shells or 1.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
Metacentric height 2.7 ft / 0.8 m
Roll period: 14.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 67 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.41
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.29

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has a flush deck and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.539
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.12: 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.81 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 52
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 18.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 23.79 ft / 7.25 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Mid (50 %): 22.15 ft / 6.75 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.15 ft / 6.75 m
- Stern: 22.15 ft / 6.75 m
- Average freeboard: 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 93.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 173.5 %
Waterplane Area: 20,388 Square feet or 1,894 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 132 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 88 lbs/sq ft or 428 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.90
- Longitudinal: 2.49
- 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

Breakdown of miscellaneous weight:

Reserved for air search radars: 50 tons
Reserved for surface search radars: 50 tons
Reserved for director radars: 50 tons
Reserved for fire direction center - 100 tons
Reserved for future requirements: 50 tons

Manching, German Air Defence Frigate laid down 1946

Displacement: 1,970 t light; 2,115 t standard; 2,475 t normal; 2,764 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

391.29 ft / 380.58 ft x 36.91 ft x 13.12 ft (normal load) [119.26 m / 116.00 m x 11.25 m x 4.00 m]

Armament:

4 - 4.13" / 105 mm guns (2x2 guns), 35.32lbs / 16.02kg shells, 1944 Model Automatic rapid fire guns in deck mounts with hoists on centreline ends, evenly spread
4 - 2.17" / 55.0 mm guns (2x2 guns), 5.08lbs / 2.30kg shells, 1945 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
2 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1940 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 162 lbs / 74 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 1,000

Armour:

Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.79" / 20 mm -
2nd: 0.59" / 15 mm 0.59" / 15 mm -
3rd: 0.59" / 15 mm 0.59" / 15 mm -

Conning tower: 1.57" / 40 mm

Machinery:

Diesel Internal combustion motors, Geared drive, 2 shafts, 41,102 shp / 30,662 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 8,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 649 tons

Complement: 175 - 228

Cost: £1.650 million / $6.598 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 24 tons, 1.0 %
Armour: 19 tons, 0.8 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 13 tons, 0.5 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 6 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 1,027 tons, 41.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 780 tons, 31.5 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 506 tons, 20.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 4.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship): 1,105 lbs / 501 Kg = 31.3 x 4.1 " / 105 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
Metacentric height 1.5 ft / 0.4 m
Roll period: 12.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 76 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has a flush deck and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.470
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.31: 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.29 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 67 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 68
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 25.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 19.03 ft / 5.80 m
- Mid (50 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Quarterdeck (25 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Stern: 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Average freeboard: 16.76 ft / 5.11 m

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 150.3 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 163.2 %
Waterplane Area: 9,470 Square feet or 880 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 42 lbs/sq ft or 204 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.60
- Longitudinal: 2.28
- Overall: 0.69
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

Miscellaneous Weight - 120 tons, comprising

Reserved for A/S standoff weapon - 30 tons
Reserved for air warning radar - 30 tons
Reserved for fire control radar - 30 tons
Reserved for A/S detection equipment - 30 tons

Seelowe, German Coastal Escort laid down 1946

Displacement: 481 t light; 527 t standard; 610 t normal; 677 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

239.07 ft / 229.66 ft x 24.93 ft x 7.38 ft (normal load) [72.87 m / 70.00 m x 7.60 m x 2.25 m]

Armament:

4 - 2.17" / 55.0 mm guns (2x2 guns), 5.08lbs / 2.30kg shells, 1945 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
8 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1940 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts on side, all amidships
Weight of broadside 22 lbs / 10 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 2,400

Armour:

Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.59" / 15 mm -
2nd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

Conning tower: 0.98" / 25 mm

Machinery:

Diesel Internal combustion engines plus batteries,
Electric cruising motors plus geared drives, 2 shafts, 4,246 shp / 3,168 Kw = 22.00 kts
Range 4,100nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 150 tons

Complement: 60 - 79

Cost: £0.241 million / $0.965 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 3 tons, 0.5 %
Armour: 5 tons, 0.9 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 4 tons, 0.6 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 2 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 106 tons, 17.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 277 tons, 45.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 129 tons, 21.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 90 tons, 14.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship): 1,242 lbs / 564 Kg = 244.7 x 2.2 " / 55 mm shells or 0.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 0.8 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 12.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.07
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.90

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has a flush deck and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.505
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.21: 1
'Natural speed' for length: 17.40 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 37
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 18.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 18.86 ft / 5.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 18.04 ft / 5.50 m
- Mid (50 %): 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
- Stern: 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
- Average freeboard: 12.78 ft / 3.90 m

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 148.5 %
Waterplane Area: 3,986 Square feet or 370 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 185 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 33 lbs/sq ft or 161 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.83
- Longitudinal: 5.34
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Breakdown of Miscellaneous Weight

Navigational radar - 15 tons
Search and gun direction radar - 15 tons
Sonar and A/S detection gear - 20 tons
Ahead throwing AS weapon - 10 tons
Depth charge racks and mortars - 20 tons
Reserved for future growth - 10 tons

The Aspern has a serious amount of "Dakka" but I can't help thinking is this a waste of resources/ luxury item. Its a cruiser but its main armament is only 5in and the armour is thin. The torpedoes give some anti-surface firepower but realistically unless this ship sails with a carrier fleet at all times it seems to be of little use in other operations (at least in a classical cruiser sense). I wonder how long these kinds of vessels will last, its not long before we start to see stand-off rockets (some with rudimentary guidance) and projectiles being more common. I know its impossible to armour these ships to withstand aerial attack (8in+ decks etc.) but these do seem vulnerable to even basic 3in RPs.

I realise the space and weight of AA fire-control and radar and modern CICs is probably too much for a destroyer hull, but this might be better as two 3,500 ton super-destroyers instead.

The Manching and Seelowe classes look good. What makes the Manching stand out as an AA frigate? To me she looks a fairly good all-purpose design.

I consider the Manching design an A-D vessel due to here intended radar and fire control outfit and her high magazine capacity. I admit that there is a fine line between general purpose and air defence.

Kieler Bucht, German Boom Defence Vessel laid down 1946

Displacement: 188 t light; 192 t standard; 210 t normal; 224 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

122.19 ft / 118.11 ft x 22.97 ft x 4.92 ft (normal load) [37.24 m / 36.00 m x 7.00 m x 1.50 m]

Armament:

2 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1940 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts on side, all aft, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 0 lbs / 0 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 1,200

Machinery:

Diesel Internal combustion motors, Geared drive, 1 shaft, 328 shp / 244 Kw = 12.00 kts
Range 3,500nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 32 tons

Complement: 26 - 35

Cost: £0.055 million / $0.220 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 8 tons, 3.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 100 tons, 47.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 22 tons, 10.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 80 tons, 38.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship): 557 lbs / 253 Kg = 2,283.8 x 0.8 " / 20 mm shells or 0.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 0.7 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 11.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 62 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has raised quarterdeck
Block coefficient: 0.551
Length to Beam Ratio: 5.14: 1
'Natural speed' for length: 10.87 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 31
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 11.48 ft / 3.50 m
- Forecastle (18 %): 9.02 ft / 2.75 m
- Mid (50 %): 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
- Quarterdeck (22 %): 12.80 ft / 3.90 m (6.56 ft / 2.00 m before break)
- Stern: 12.80 ft / 3.90 m
- Average freeboard: 8.95 ft / 2.73 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 55.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 97.1 %
Waterplane Area: 1,837 Square feet or 171 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 217 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 33 lbs/sq ft or 160 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.16
- Longitudinal: 6.83
- Overall: 1.39
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Miscellaneous weight represents netlaying equipment and nets



Oderhaff, German Fire Boat laid down 1946

Displacement: 186 t light; 190 t standard; 220 t normal; 244 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

120.35 ft / 118.11 ft x 22.97 ft x 5.25 ft (normal load) [36.68 m / 36.00 m x 7.00 m x 1.60 m]

Machinery:

Diesel Internal combustion motors, Hydraulic drive, 1 shaft, 627 shp / 468 Kw = 14.00 kts
Range 3,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 53 tons

Complement: 28 - 37

Cost: £0.062 million / $0.247 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 16 tons, 7.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 90 tons, 41.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 34 tons, 15.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 80 tons, 36.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship): 599 lbs / 272 Kg = 5.5 x 6 " / 152 mm shells or 0.6 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
Metacentric height 0.6 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 12.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 73 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.87

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.541
Length to Beam Ratio: 5.14: 1
'Natural speed' for length: 10.87 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 39
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 11.48 ft / 3.50 m
- Forecastle (18 %): 10.66 ft / 3.25 m
- Mid (50 %): 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
- Quarterdeck (22 %): 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
- Stern: 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
- Average freeboard: 10.18 ft / 3.10 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 63.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 124.4 %
Waterplane Area: 1,817 Square feet or 169 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 198 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 27 lbs/sq ft or 131 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.83
- Longitudinal: 8.83
- Overall: 1.06
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, rides out heavy weather easily

Breakdown of miscellaneous weight:

Three water cannon stations - each 10 tons = 30 tons
Three high capacity pumps - each 10 tons = 30 tons
Provision for boarding crew of firefighters (5) = 20 tons