The Socialist Republic of Sieran

Yeah I know what you meant and I considered using that side by side arrangement on an extended sponson but I figured that the extra weight of the mountings off center might cause further stability issues as these cruisers don't have much beam available and their fine hull lines for speed don't lend themselves to stability. That's why I went with the inline positioning despite that meaning the fields of fire are limited by the funnels fore and aft.

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"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Been busy developing Sierans naval strategy interwar and decided that as the nation is primarily defensively geared and can never hope to outmatch the IJN in a duel with all odds even, their tactics would be geared more towards to denying the enemy free access to territorial waters. Also the North Pacific would likely to be a place where the IJN places lower priority and hence the latest and most powerful vessels of that navy are unlikely to be confronted. With that in mind, the key enemy is likely to be the old Kongos and mostly cruisers.

Sieran has always emphasized high speed and mobility in all their machines of war, be they of land, sea and air, hence the battlecruiser is a logical suiting to the needs of the navy. I am yet to determine whether to put the emphasis of design on firepower or protection as well as speed. For that matter I'm not even sure what size to go with yet for a vessel. The idea is to be able to use Sierans long-range guns to most effect in an engagement and to use superior speed to dictate the terms and time of engagement.

This is the first design I've prepared, armed with Sieranian 12in guns firing heavy shells with a high muzzle velocity to improve range and accuracy. The ship is armored against 14in shells which are the largest caliber expected to be confronted (as quite likely the Yamatos and Nagatos will be occupied in the South Pacific). Max sustainable speed is 32 knots though bursts of up to 35 knots are possible for brief periods when needed. The machinery is Turbo-Electric drive which is found in all Sieranian capital ships.

Code: Select all

SRN Komsomolsky, Socialist Republic of Sieran Battlecruiser laid down 1938 (Engine 1939)

Displacement:
	26,419 t light; 27,762 t standard; 29,006 t normal; 30,001 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
	(774.02 ft / 762.00 ft) x 96.00 ft x (27.00 / 27.71 ft)
	(235.92 m / 232.26 m) x 29.26 m  x (8.23 / 8.44 m)

Armament:
      9 - 12.00" / 305 mm 50.0 cal guns - 1,102.31lbs / 500.00kg shells, 120 per gun
	  Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1939 Model
	  3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
		1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 4.72" / 120 mm 45.0 cal guns - 53.18lbs / 24.12kg shells, 200 per gun
	  Dual purpose guns in deck mounts, 1937 Model
	  6 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
		3 raised mounts
      16 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1.96lbs / 0.89kg shells, 1,500 per gun
	  Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
	  8 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
		4 raised mounts
      12 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 3,000 per gun
	  Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
	  12 x Single mounts on side ends, evenly spread
		12 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 10,593 lbs / 4,805 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:		Width (max)	Length (avg)		Height (avg)
	Main:	13.4" / 340 mm	420.00 ft / 128.02 m	12.00 ft / 3.66 m
	Ends:	Unarmoured
	  Main Belt covers 85 % of normal length
	  Main Belt inclined 12.00 degrees (positive = in)

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
		1.50" / 38 mm	420.00 ft / 128.02 m	23.22 ft / 7.08 m
	Beam between torpedo bulkheads 89.90 ft / 27.40 m

   - Gun armour:	Face (max)	Other gunhouse (avg)	Barbette/hoist (max)
	Main:	14.0" / 356 mm	7.80" / 198 mm		13.8" / 351 mm
	2nd:	1.50" / 38 mm	1.00" / 25 mm		      -
	3rd:	0.50" / 13 mm	      -			      -

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
	For and Aft decks: 3.50" / 89 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 5.00" / 127 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
	Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
	Electric motors, 4 shafts, 165,029 shp / 123,112 Kw = 32.59 kts
	Range 6,000nm at 14.00 kts
	Bunker at max displacement = 2,239 tons

Complement:
	1,110 - 1,444

Cost:
	£13.732 million / $54.929 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
	Armament: 1,732 tons, 6.0 %
	   - Guns: 1,732 tons, 6.0 %
	Armour: 8,173 tons, 28.2 %
	   - Belts: 2,930 tons, 10.1 %
	   - Torpedo bulkhead: 541 tons, 1.9 %
	   - Armament: 2,255 tons, 7.8 %
	   - Armour Deck: 2,345 tons, 8.1 %
	   - Conning Tower: 102 tons, 0.4 %
	Machinery: 4,465 tons, 15.4 %
	Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,048 tons, 41.5 %
	Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,587 tons, 8.9 %
	Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
	Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
	  39,050 lbs / 17,713 Kg = 45.2 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.6 torpedoes
	Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.00
	Metacentric height 4.7 ft / 1.4 m
	Roll period: 18.6 seconds
	Steadiness	- As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 80 %
			- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.77
	Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:
	Hull has a flush deck,
	  a normal bow and a cruiser stern
	Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.514 / 0.518
	Length to Beam Ratio: 7.94 : 1
	'Natural speed' for length: 27.60 kts
	Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
	Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 72
	Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 14.00 degrees
	Stern overhang: 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
	Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
				Fore end,	 Aft end
	   - Forecastle:	23.00 %,  32.16 ft / 9.80 m,  26.68 ft / 8.13 m
	   - Forward deck:	25.00 %,  26.68 ft / 8.13 m,  22.20 ft / 6.77 m
	   - Aft deck:	30.00 %,  22.20 ft / 6.77 m,  22.20 ft / 6.77 m
	   - Quarter deck:	22.00 %,  22.20 ft / 6.77 m,  23.20 ft / 7.07 m
	   - Average freeboard:		24.40 ft / 7.44 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
	Space	- Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 84.2 %
		- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 196.7 %
	Waterplane Area: 49,369 Square feet or 4,587 Square metres
	Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
	Structure weight / hull surface area: 179 lbs/sq ft or 874 Kg/sq metre
	Hull strength (Relative):
		- Cross-sectional: 0.96
		- Longitudinal: 1.39
		- Overall: 1.00
	Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
	Excellent accommodation and workspace room
	Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

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"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Also another update of sorts, currently working on a 'never were' for this AU in the form of a German designed panzerschiffe for Sieran in 1935 which was laid down but then cancelled following escalating tensions between the two countries (primarily triggered by Germany signing the anti-commitern pact with Japan). The incomplete vessel was taken over by kriegsmarine and completed to a final design similar to the other existing vessels of the type.

The story behind the design is that Sieran liked the idea of high speed long range cruisers capable of swiftly outgunning Japanese smaller vessels whilst being smaller and more affordable than larger fleet types. After the cancellation of this design, Sieran began to develop proposals of its own for a series of small displacement battle cruisers capable of fulfilling a similar role.

EDIT: Here is a preview so far, you can quite easily see the resemblance to the Deutschland class at this stage.

[ img ]

Can anyone think of a suitable AA battery considering this was a 1935 design proposal? Whilst German yards prepared the design, it would use Sieranian weapons including the 28cm (11in) guns (though the turrets were German), 12.7cm and 12cm DP guns, 40mm AA and 20mm AA guns are available for fitting.

Also I wouldn't mind ideas for the superstructure. The real world German superstructure could do for a basis but I'm looking for a different bridge tower structure that is less blocky and tall.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Updated some background info and added wip that I'd like feedback and advice on.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Secondary turrets may be too earlier

Yeah I'm not quite sure about them yet. The other one I was using was only a single mount and as such nit really suitable here. Probably need to simplify the turret shield.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Alright no image update but been working on this proposal. The upper works are a hybrid of German and Russian with the secondary twin gun turrets simplified in shape to be a little more basic, essentially a shield extended to be fully enclosed for the bad weather in the Bering sea and north pacific.

Thinking of fitting an AA armament of four quad 40mm guns and a few single 20mm AA guns around key points of the superstructure. This AA sounds heavy but Sieran had the belief that in order for a raider/cruiser killer like this ship, AA would be essential to take down any scout planes to keep the element of surprise.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Image updated to show latest WIP. Still working on the upperworks obviously. Aft of the funnel there will be a large handling derrick and an aircraft catapult, behind that will be the mainmast which also carries spotlights. AA will be positioned in that area aft of the funnel (or on sponsons on either side of it) as well as beside the bridge.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Hm.. I think she looks quite good. There is something I do like about that conning tower.

I wanted something to be a hybrid of the Soviet and Italian cruisers of the time as well as the Panzerschiffes and the Japanese Pagoda designs. The lower open bridge is the navigation and command bridge whilst atop the fully enclosed tripod tower structure is the battle bridge with some armor. The elevated position also means its a good fire control location with the main rangefinder to be mounted atop the tower structure.

These vessels whilst never built (other than the original that the Kriegsmarine completed to a modified design for their own use), they served as the basis for Sierans last generation big gun capital ships.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

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