WesWorld

The BNS is examining the possibility of new battleships from 1943.

These units would, in all likelyhood, replace rather than supplement the existing Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. These small battleships, while reasonably effective in their day, are clearly outclassed by the battleships currently being built by powers such as the UK, USA, Germany, Netherlands, and Japan. There is also the reality that the BNS simply can not adequately screen a large number of major units - and it already has five aircraft carriers planned or in service.

Study requirements for the new battleships were:

-32 knot speed, to operate with carriers
-15,000 nm @15 kt range, for the same reason
-Reasonable AA and deck protection
-Adequate protection against horizontal shellfire
-500 t miscellaneous weight for aircraft, sensors, command facilities, and other, later enhancements.
-Use of existing guns, whether domestic or allied.

Study 0 is the baseline study, and is essentially an Akbar with additional speed and deck armor. Armament. LD = 37,178 t.

Study 1 adds a third quadruple 35 cm turret forward and superfiring. LD = 43,427 t.

Study 2 abandons the 35 cm gun and instead uses the RSAN 42 cm gun, in two triple turrets. LD = 41,577 t as the larger guns are offset by fewer turrets.

Study 3 puts the 42 cm gun into two new-design quadruple turrets, making it essentially an uber-Study 0. LD = 46,610 t.

These would almost certainly be the last battleships built in Bharat, so longevity is an issue; for all the BNS knows, they might be sticking Regulus, Talos, and Polaris equivalents on them in the 1960s...

What are your thoughts?

STUDY 0

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1943

Displacement:
37,178 t light; 38,686 t standard; 42,566 t normal; 45,671 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
795.89 ft / 787.40 ft x 111.55 ft x 30.84 ft (normal load)
242.59 m / 240.00 m x 34.00 m x 9.40 m

Armament:
8 - 13.78" / 350 mm guns (2x4 guns), 1,308.20lbs / 593.39kg shells, 1943 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
8 - 4.92" / 125 mm guns (4x2 guns), 59.59lbs / 27.03kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 4.92" / 125 mm guns (4x2 guns), 59.59lbs / 27.03kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
24 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (12x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1943 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
32 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 0.10lbs / 0.05kg shells, 1943 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 11,558 lbs / 5,243 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 15.0" / 380 mm 492.13 ft / 150.00 m 16.01 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 96 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.97" / 50 mm 543.80 ft / 165.75 m 30.02 ft / 9.15 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 17.7" / 450 mm 9.84" / 250 mm 15.7" / 400 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.79" / 20 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 0.79" / 20 mm - -
4th: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Armour deck: 5.51" / 140 mm, Conning tower: 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 169,053 shp / 126,113 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts (Bunkerage = 6,985 tons)

Complement:
1,481 - 1,926

Cost:
£20.462 million / $81.846 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,445 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 15,157 tons, 35.6 %
- Belts: 5,129 tons, 12.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,189 tons, 2.8 %
- Armament: 2,254 tons, 5.3 %
- Armour Deck: 6,507 tons, 15.3 %
- Conning Tower: 78 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 4,366 tons, 10.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 15,710 tons, 36.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,388 tons, 12.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 500 tons, 1.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
62,138 lbs / 28,185 Kg = 47.5 x 13.8 " / 350 mm shells or 9.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
Metacentric height 7.8 ft / 2.4 m
Roll period: 16.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.35
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.08

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.550
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.06 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 32.77 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 65
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 29.53 ft / 9.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Mid (50 %): 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Stern: 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Average freeboard: 24.09 ft / 7.34 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 74.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 193.9 %
Waterplane Area: 63,817 Square feet or 5,929 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 184 lbs/sq ft or 898 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.36
- 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

STUDY 1

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1943

Displacement:
43,427 t light; 45,412 t standard; 49,723 t normal; 53,173 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
845.10 ft / 836.61 ft x 111.55 ft x 32.15 ft (normal load)
257.59 m / 255.00 m x 34.00 m x 9.80 m

Armament:
12 - 13.78" / 350 mm guns (3x4 guns), 1,308.20lbs / 593.39kg shells, 1943 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 4.92" / 125 mm guns (4x2 guns), 59.59lbs / 27.03kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 4.92" / 125 mm guns (8x2 guns), 59.59lbs / 27.03kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (24x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1943 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 12 raised mounts
32 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 0.10lbs / 0.05kg shells, 1943 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 17,403 lbs / 7,894 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 15.0" / 380 mm 492.13 ft / 150.00 m 16.01 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 90 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.97" / 50 mm 543.80 ft / 165.75 m 30.02 ft / 9.15 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 17.7" / 450 mm 9.84" / 250 mm 15.7" / 400 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.79" / 20 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 0.79" / 20 mm - -
4th: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Armour deck: 5.51" / 140 mm, Conning tower: 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 184,751 shp / 137,824 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts (Bunkerage = 7,761 tons)

Complement:
1,664 - 2,164

Cost:
£26.282 million / $105.127 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,175 tons, 4.4 %
Armour: 17,147 tons, 34.5 %
- Belts: 5,168 tons, 10.4 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,189 tons, 2.4 %
- Armament: 3,589 tons, 7.2 %
- Armour Deck: 7,116 tons, 14.3 %
- Conning Tower: 86 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 4,771 tons, 9.6 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,904 tons, 38.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,296 tons, 12.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 429 tons, 0.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
65,866 lbs / 29,876 Kg = 50.3 x 13.8 " / 350 mm shells or 9.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
Metacentric height 8.2 ft / 2.5 m
Roll period: 16.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.46
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.05

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.580
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.50 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 33.48 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 48
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 29.53 ft / 9.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Mid (50 %): 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Stern: 23.62 ft / 7.20 m
- Average freeboard: 24.09 ft / 7.34 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 79.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 188.7 %
Waterplane Area: 69,787 Square feet or 6,483 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 202 lbs/sq ft or 985 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.20
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

STUDY 2

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1943

Displacement:
41,577 t light; 43,599 t standard; 47,754 t normal; 51,077 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
787.40 ft / 787.40 ft x 111.55 ft x 32.81 ft (normal load)
240.00 m / 240.00 m x 34.00 m x 10.00 m

Armament:
6 - 16.54" / 420 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,976.24lbs / 1,350.00kg shells, 1943 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
16 - 4.92" / 125 mm guns (8x2 guns), 59.59lbs / 27.03kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
24 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (12x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1943 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
32 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 0.10lbs / 0.05kg shells, 1943 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 18,950 lbs / 8,596 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 13.8" / 350 mm 501.15 ft / 152.75 m 16.01 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
2.95" / 75 mm 501.15 ft / 152.75 m 27.10 ft / 8.26 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 17.7" / 450 mm 9.84" / 250 mm 15.7" / 400 mm

- Armour deck: 5.51" / 140 mm, Conning tower: 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 183,649 shp / 137,002 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts (Bunkerage = 7,477 tons)

Complement:
1,614 - 2,099

Cost:
£23.944 million / $95.775 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,832 tons, 3.8 %
Armour: 15,823 tons, 33.1 %
- Belts: 4,802 tons, 10.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,484 tons, 3.1 %
- Armament: 2,756 tons, 5.8 %
- Armour Deck: 6,698 tons, 14.0 %
- Conning Tower: 84 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 4,743 tons, 9.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,679 tons, 39.1 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,176 tons, 12.9 %
Miscellaneous weights: 500 tons, 1.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
66,181 lbs / 30,019 Kg = 29.3 x 16.5 " / 420 mm shells or 10.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
Metacentric height 7.2 ft / 2.2 m
Roll period: 17.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.65
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.580
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.06 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 32.65 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 64
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 29.53 ft / 9.00 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.25 ft / 8.00 m
- Mid (50 %): 26.25 ft / 8.00 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.97 ft / 7.00 m (26.25 ft / 8.00 m before break)
- Stern: 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Average freeboard: 26.02 ft / 7.93 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77.3 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 203.5 %
Waterplane Area: 65,682 Square feet or 6,102 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 208 lbs/sq ft or 1,014 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.95
- Longitudinal: 1.62
- 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

STUDY 3

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1943

Displacement:
46,610 t light; 49,083 t standard; 53,577 t normal; 57,173 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
838.59 ft / 820.21 ft x 111.55 ft (Bulges 118.11 ft) x 32.81 ft (normal load)
255.60 m / 250.00 m x 34.00 m (Bulges 36.00 m) x 10.00 m

Armament:
8 - 16.54" / 420 mm guns (2x4 guns), 2,976.24lbs / 1,350.00kg shells, 1943 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
16 - 4.92" / 125 mm guns (8x2 guns), 59.59lbs / 27.03kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
32 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (16x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1943 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
32 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 0.10lbs / 0.05kg shells, 1943 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 24,948 lbs / 11,316 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 13.8" / 350 mm 501.15 ft / 152.75 m 16.01 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 1.97" / 50 mm 501.15 ft / 152.75 m 11.48 ft / 3.50 m
Main Belt covers 94 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
2.95" / 75 mm 501.15 ft / 152.75 m 27.10 ft / 8.26 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 17.7" / 450 mm 9.84" / 250 mm 15.7" / 400 mm

- Armour deck: 5.51" / 140 mm, Conning tower: 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 195,710 shp / 146,000 Kw = 31.98 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts (Bunkerage = 8,089 tons)

Complement:
1,760 - 2,289

Cost:
£28.521 million / $114.082 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,403 tons, 4.5 %
Armour: 16,900 tons, 31.5 %
- Belts: 5,317 tons, 9.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,484 tons, 2.8 %
- Armament: 2,965 tons, 5.5 %
- Armour Deck: 7,044 tons, 13.1 %
- Conning Tower: 90 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 5,055 tons, 9.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 21,753 tons, 40.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,967 tons, 13.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 500 tons, 0.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
69,043 lbs / 31,317 Kg = 30.5 x 16.5 " / 420 mm shells or 10.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 7.2 ft / 2.2 m
Roll period: 18.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.70
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.590
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.94 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 33.34 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 66
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 32.48 ft / 9.90 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.57 ft / 8.10 m
- Mid (50 %): 26.57 ft / 8.10 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.37 ft / 5.60 m (26.57 ft / 8.10 m before break)
- Stern: 18.37 ft / 5.60 m
- Average freeboard: 25.82 ft / 7.87 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 198.7 %
Waterplane Area: 69,078 Square feet or 6,418 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 115 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 227 lbs/sq ft or 1,110 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.52
- 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

Quoted

-32 knot speed, to operate with carriers.

There's three times a CV needs speed.

1. When launching.
2. When recovering.
3. When running away from certain death.
3a. Surface threat.
3b. Aerial threat.

In these cases, do the escorts need to match the CV speed?

1. No. The CV turns to take best advantage of the wind and speeds up as the rest of the formation steams on at 15kts. After launch, she can return to her place in the formation.

2. No. The CV turns to take best advantage of the wind and speeds up as the rest of the formation steams on at 15kts. After launch, she can return to her place in the formation.

3a. The escort interposes herself between the fleeing CV and the surface threat. High speed may or may not be of tactical advantage.

3b looks like the only case where having the escorting BB being able to match CV speed is really advantageous.

For most purposes, 30kts or so is plenty for a CV escort.

AdmK beat me to the punch. During WWII, the USN determined there wasn't any appreciable tactical or strategic differences between the faster Iowa class and the slower North Carolina and South Dakota class in their ability to keep up with the carriers. In many cases, a well-handled Standard could operate with the fast carriers, because the Standards could still make the same approximate speeds as a CV in 75% of the CV's operating profile.

I will agree with both Admiral K and Brock that the speed is excessive if the primary role of the ship is to escort aircraft carriers; the cost for those extra couple knots is excessive - and Admiral K summed up the potential scenarios quite well.

That said, of the several designs, I prefer Study One, simply because I dislike putting all the armament in only two turrets. I also dislike quad turrets on principle, but at least having three of them is better than just two, in my mind at least.

I really like the fact that they are not huge monsters. Myself, I would have never designed the German Sachsen class the way there are, and probably would not have gone over 45,000 tons or so.

With eleven factories to my name, monsters are a dubious proposition. Even something this size takes some consideration...

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
With eleven factories to my name, monsters are a dubious proposition. Even something this size takes some consideration...

With 31 factories to Germany's name, I still consider monsters very dubious propositions.

Here, here.

Quoted

Myself, I would have never designed the German Sachsen class the way there are, and probably would not have gone over 45,000 tons or so.

...small enough that I can have the slip cleared within two years of being laid down, and be on sea trials within five.

That way, if I make a strategic mistake in a construction decision (D*mn, I have a war on my hands, I should be building cruisers and destroyers there rather than a GigantoUberBattleship), I can get her off the slip, suspend construction on a free-floating hull and tuck it away in some remote corner of Arkhangelsk, Petrograd, or Vladivostok while I build what I really need.

Then after the crisis is over, I can complete or scrap the hull as seems best.

And 45,000 tons is well within this limit.

Speed - It should also be noted that the USN had lots of fuel oil at it's disposal, so sustained operations at high speed was a reasonable possibility. However, 32 knots does give a substantial 3knot margin over the traditional Dutch foe, 4 knots over their 'official' speeds.

(OOC : The Dutch having chosen to delibrately match the Utrechts and van Heemskerck, which kept size of the Kortenaers down )

I do think Bahrat is ignoring a traditional foe- Italy. What was the last BBs that Italy built? 12x380mm, I believe following the OTL British theories that since BBs will designed to be proof against period guns, lots of large caliber are more desirable as even the non-penetrating hits will inflict sufficient shock and blast to the target. Anytime you have to decelerate a 1 ton mass moving mach 3, it hurts.

Study 1 , A very reasonable vessel, "palatable" politically as comparable to the Italians, and could take advantage of the above theory.

Study 2 , 97% as large but with fewer, smaller guns than the Dutch Battlewagons.

Study 3, Full size "Class A" battleship.

So to me, it becomes an interesting RP exercise. Politician "A" arguing Study 1 for cost and matching the Italians, but Admiral "B" arguing study 3 to field an arguably first class ship for "only" the cost of 1.5 destroyers more.... So would you rather have 2 "Study 1" and 18 DDs, or 2 "Study 3" and 15 DDs ?

I think neither the 35cm nor the 42cm guns seem to make a balanced design for the size you are probably aiming for. Have you considered a 38cm caliber gun?

This could be an example. Slower than your 32kn designs but the point has been already adressed and I agree an escorting BB would not need to be able to match the top speed of a carrier.

(Small calibers do not yet match Indian guns. Note non-standard shell size of the RSAN main gun.)

Design 43/38 IV, South African Battleship laid down 1943

Displacement:
34.225 t light; 35.870 t standard; 38.877 t normal; 41.283 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
804,45 ft / 787,40 ft x 104,99 ft x 28,38 ft (normal load)
245,20 m / 240,00 m x 32,00 m x 8,65 m

Armament:
9 - 14,96" / 380 mm guns (3x3 guns), 1.818,81lbs / 825,00kg shells, 1943 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
16 - 4,53" / 115 mm guns (8x2 guns), 46,40lbs / 21,05kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 1,57" / 40,0 mm guns (4x4 guns), 1,95lbs / 0,89kg shells, 1943 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
24 - 0,79" / 20,0 mm guns (4x6 guns), 0,24lbs / 0,11kg shells, 1943 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
12 - 0,79" / 20,0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 0,24lbs / 0,11kg shells, 1943 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 17.152 lbs / 7.780 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 12,6" / 320 mm 413,39 ft / 126,00 m 12,47 ft / 3,80 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 81% of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
0,98" / 25 mm 413,39 ft / 126,00 m 28,38 ft / 8,65 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 15,7" / 400 mm 9,45" / 240 mm 15,0" / 380 mm
2nd: 1,38" / 35 mm 0,98" / 25 mm 1,18" / 30 mm
3rd: 0,59" / 15 mm - -
4th: 0,39" / 10 mm - -
5th: 0,39" / 10 mm - -

- Armour deck: 5,91" / 150 mm, Conning tower: 1,18" / 30 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 120.644 shp / 90.000 Kw = 29,60 kts
Range 8.000nm at 18,00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5.413 tons

Complement:
1.383 - 1.799

Cost:
£21,590 million / $86,358 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1.981 tons, 5,1%
Armour: 13.149 tons, 33,8%
- Belts: 2.917 tons, 7,5%
- Torpedo bulkhead: 427 tons, 1,1%
- Armament: 3.023 tons, 7,8%
- Armour Deck: 6.754 tons, 17,4%
- Conning Tower: 29 tons, 0,1%
Machinery: 3.116 tons, 8,0%
Hull, fittings & equipment: 15.828 tons, 40,7%
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4.652 tons, 12,0%
Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 0,4%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
55.943 lbs / 25.375 Kg = 33,4 x 15,0 " / 380 mm shells or 8,4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,03
Metacentric height 5,7 ft / 1,7 m
Roll period: 18,5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,64
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1,00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0,580
Length to Beam Ratio: 7,50 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 32,48 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 70
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30,00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0,00 ft / 0,00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 29,53 ft / 9,00 m
- Forecastle (29%): 18,86 ft / 5,75 m
- Mid (50%): 18,86 ft / 5,75 m
- Quarterdeck (15%): 18,86 ft / 5,75 m
- Stern: 18,86 ft / 5,75 m
- Average freeboard: 20,10 ft / 6,13 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 80,5%
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 160,6%
Waterplane Area: 61.818 Square feet or 5.743 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 110%
Structure weight / hull surface area: 198 lbs/sq ft or 965 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0,99
- Longitudinal: 1,05
- 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

after a single ~14" hit, let alone a torpedo. Stability's way too low. Other than that, she's a contender.

The Dutch like her.

She doesn't overmatch the 15 year old Utrecths or the slightly younger Van Heemskerck we're both pretty proof on decks, but and I'll be through the belt long before you get past mine. Heck even the DeRutyers aren't decisively outmatched.

Plus, her ends are floodable and her belt is not very tall.
I don't like the 3.25m jump at the bow, and it's still wet at the bow. Plus she's long enough to limit how many docks she fits in.

Not to mention Admiral K's point. She's giving up too much for better shooting in bad weather

Maybe the Dutch will be willing to subsidize the construction....would 30% interest be too much to ask?

I think all designs but especially the first 2 are over armored, also 1 and 3 give no firepower advantage over the current ships. If you are building new ships go big , otherwise just modernize the current ones.

Going bigger than 16.5" gets diminishing returns (slower ROF thus less hits) so its likely the limit India is willing to go. Even then I agree with your last statement, by the time India finishes any new battlewagons I think the superiority of CV's will be more evident than it is now and India is not a rich nation from a wesworld infrastucture perspective so building them is quite costly.

I went and did this sort of exercise myself, back when I started playing the US, and was looking at a post-monster ship. To get a 32 knot speed, stability and seakeeping, block coefficient, armor, and a main armament of 12 16in, I was looking at something that would make Senator Tillman blush.

Compromises have to be made, Realistically I agree with the others on the speed issue if the primary goal of this ship is as a close escort for your carrier groups. Now mind you, if this ship's purpose is to act as the "big muscle" for a cruiser group, that may be a different story.

9x15in isn't a bad thing I suppose if you wish to be a clone of the Atlantean/Iberian/Italian/British/Danish/Japanese/South African/German/Dutch all of whom have that configuration in some form or another.