JK-class (refitt)
Super dreadnought
Length: 201,2m
Beam: 34,5m
Draft: 11,25m maximum
Displacement: more than 37000 tonns
Propulsion: 4 Turbines providing 118 000 shp 1937 (5 Turbines providing 152 000 shp as of 1895)
speed: 1937: 26,2 knots. 1985: On trial 29 knots.
Endurance: 1937: 15500 nmi, 1901: 16700 nmi.
Armament:
2*quad 340mm guns
1*twin 340mm gun (later as DP gun)
5*twin 150 mm guns (later as DP gun)
1*trippel 150mm gun (later as DP gun)
8*76mm guns (later upgradet to DP gun)
The JK-class (refitt) is larger then OK class but she is older. When the JK-class battleships were launched it was the navy's fastest and most powerful ships in the fleet. originally she had 5 * twin 245mm cannons and a mix of 76mm, 105mm and 150mm. by 1914 it was decided that she should be placed in reserve fleet, since it have ordered a new battleships of the OK class. but in 1935 there was a growing issues in the world, it was almost as if the world was quiet before the storm, so they ordred that JK-class battleships would be rebuilt with a new superstructure, new weapons and upgrading the old engines.
The Design
When the design of the ship started, requirements:
- She had to be able to hang in a fight much longer than any other battleship.
- She had to be able to defend itself and have the skills to participate in offensive attacks as well as defend the rest of the fleet .
- She must be fast enough to escape hostile fire and get out of certain situations.
so the designer found that the easiest way to get to a battleship like that. was to make her just large enough.
- to be able to wear the Armor she needed, they made her wider, but to avoid getting the so-called bathtub, they made her a little longer, but then came the question: how to make her fast enough? easy one makes her longer and put in 5 large engines. thereby they got a very large battleship some was: fast, able to withstand hostile fire better than others and could respond the enemy fire with interest!
when she was upgraded in 1936-37 the requirements was:
- new and more effective superstructure.
- she had to be able to defend herself, while she gives supporting fire to the main force, she had to also act as a blockade ship.
- she had to be fast enough to keep up with the main force, but she must also be fast enough to stay away from hostile fire.
When she was finished rebuilt in 1937 with the brand new untested 340mm twin and quad cannons. that after some testing found out was more effective than other guns in the fleet, those cannon could switch between the targets on the starboard and port and open fire, 7 to 10 seconds faster than the guns that were still in use on board the OK-class battleship. With the new guns and the heavy hull she got fast the nick name "Hevy pounder"
She quickly became a "joker" for the entire fleet.
- Invasion. Use a JK-class battleship.
- Battleship against battleships. Use a JK-class battleship.
- defense. .....
- Problems. ......