Thanks Krakatoa. In a quick burst, I've finished both the dreadnought and the... well, I guess both dreadnoughts.
First up, this little gem that I created for this challenge. It took me a while to warm up to it, but once I added some color and my design style to it, I quite like it now.
Yes, it's called BB-? as I'm still trying to figure out how to integrate it into my BB numbering system.
A brief history: After receipt of the Saarbrucken and Innsbruck pre-dreadnoughts in 1898, the DN finally had a capable ocean-going battleship. However, their service life was quite short, as they were soon made obsolete by the rapid advances in naval technology at the time. They were quickly out armored, out paced, and, by sheer number, outgunned. After the appearance of HMS Dreadnought, which set the standard for later ships, the DN knew it would not be able to keep up with these fast, heavily armed ships, and decide to take action. With approval to dip into the emergency fund, the DN created basic requirements for the design of their new 'dreadnought' and contracted the design and building work to the rapidly growing East Haven Federal Shipyard. The EHFS was the primary builder for most of the DN's ships, from the torpedo boats, all the way up to one of the larger Armored cruisers. EHFS therefore had the capability to build such a large and revolutionary ship. After design work was done, however, it was found the EHFS could theoretically build the dreadnought, but it would take more than 5 years to build and commission it with it's limited facilities, so it was instead contracted to Newport News Shipbuilding (which built all of Denton's battleships. All of them). The keel was laid down in early 1906 and the hull was launched in 1908. After being steamed to Denton for outfitting (as was standard), she was named Concord, and commissioned in 1909. This is also when the Saarbrucken and Innsbruck were sent to the reserve fleet and used for training exercises.
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*Saarbrucken and Innsbruck may be pushed back a number, to BB-1 and BB-2, to allow Concord the designation BB-3
DNS Concord, Denton Dreadnought laid down 1907
Displacement:
15,958 t light; 17,037 t standard; 18,155 t normal; 19,049 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
496.00 ft / 496.00 ft x 84.00 ft x 25.50 ft (normal load)
151.18 m / 151.18 m x 25.60 m x 7.77 m
Armament:
4 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (2x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1907 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
8 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (4x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1907 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, all amidships
14 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1907 Model
Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
on side ends, evenly spread
16 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns (8x2 guns), 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1907 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 1 raised mount - superfiring
Weight of broadside 11,459 lbs / 5,198 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 105
2 - 18.0" / 457.2 mm submerged torpedo tubes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 336.00 ft / 102.41 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 8.00" / 203 mm 160.00 ft / 48.77 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 104 % of normal length
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 6.00" / 152 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
2nd: 12.0" / 305 mm 6.00" / 152 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
3rd: 7.00" / 178 mm - 7.00" / 178 mm
4th: 1.00" / 25 mm - -
- Armour deck: 1.25" / 32 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm
Machinery:
Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 18,555 ihp / 13,842 Kw = 19.00 kts
Range 6,100nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,012 tons (100% coal)
Complement:
781 - 1,016
Cost:
£2.050 million / $8.201 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,432 tons, 7.9 %
Armour: 5,618 tons, 30.9 %
- Belts: 2,541 tons, 14.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 2,195 tons, 12.1 %
- Armour Deck: 703 tons, 3.9 %
- Conning Tower: 179 tons, 1.0 %
Machinery: 2,062 tons, 11.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,766 tons, 37.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,197 tons, 12.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 80 tons, 0.4 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
16,020 lbs / 7,267 Kg = 18.5 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
Roll period: 15.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.52
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.18
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.598
Length to Beam Ratio: 5.90 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.27 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 44 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
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: 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Mid (50 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Stern: 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Average freeboard: 13.80 ft / 4.21 m
Ship tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 98.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 96.4 %
Waterplane Area: 30,418 Square feet or 2,826 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 85 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 167 lbs/sq ft or 817 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.40
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
After the commissioning of DNS Concord, Denton was still looking for more firepower, and since design had still changed drastically in the previous 4 years, there were now several attractive options for the DN, which included the moving of the wing turrets to the centerline and the use of superfiring turrets. Setting some basic requirements, which included the use of the new 14" guns and at least 5x twin turrets, the DN accepted submissions for designs of the next battleship class. After much review and consideration, the DN settled on two designs, one with a 6 turret layout, and the other with a 5 turret layout.
The first design called for 6 turrets, with 3 superfiring. It was much longer than the original specifications called for, but it was still the same beam and draught, which allowed it to fit in the canal locks then in use (the locks that led to Lake Haven, the location of EHFS and Lock Haven).
Fort Albany Class Proposed, Denton Dreadnought laid down 1911
Displacement:
29,355 t light; 31,245 t standard; 33,823 t normal; 35,887 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
643.75 ft / 642.00 ft x 93.00 ft x 27.50 ft (normal load)
196.21 m / 195.68 m x 28.35 m x 8.38 m
Armament:
12 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1911 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
Main guns limited to end-on fire
21 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1911 Model
Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
on side, evenly spread
21 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
2 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1911 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 17,902 lbs / 8,120 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 120
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 404.00 ft / 123.14 m 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Ends: 9.00" / 229 mm 154.00 ft / 46.94 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
84.00 ft / 25.60 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 6.00" / 152 mm 12.0" / 305 mm
2nd: 9.00" / 229 mm 9.00" / 229 mm 6.00" / 152 mm
3rd: 2.00" / 51 mm - -
- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm
Machinery:
Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 38,135 ihp / 28,448 Kw = 21.00 kts
Range 10,000nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,642 tons (100% coal)
Complement:
1,246 - 1,621
Cost:
£3.262 million / $13.047 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,238 tons, 6.6 %
Armour: 12,354 tons, 36.5 %
- Belts: 5,152 tons, 15.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 4,226 tons, 12.5 %
- Armour Deck: 2,706 tons, 8.0 %
- Conning Tower: 270 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 2,534 tons, 7.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,130 tons, 35.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,468 tons, 13.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.3 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
43,364 lbs / 19,670 Kg = 31.6 x 14.0 " / 356 mm shells or 3.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.6 m
Roll period: 17.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 73 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 1.02
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.47
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.721
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.90 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.34 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 43 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (50 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
- Average freeboard: 20.96 ft / 6.39 m
Ship tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 75.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 156.5 %
Waterplane Area: 48,755 Square feet or 4,529 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 95 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 183 lbs/sq ft or 892 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.30
- 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
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily
The second design was a 5 turret design, submitted as a modified New York Class battleship, which was then undergoing funding approval in the United States. It was the battleship that fit the most requirements as laid down by the DN, and so was chosen to be the next class of 2 battleships. The two were to be built in Newport News, right alongside their sister ship, BB-35 Texas.
Fort Albany Class, Denton Dreadnought laid down 1911
Displacement:
23,892 t light; 25,453 t standard; 27,086 t normal; 28,392 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
565.50 ft / 565.50 ft x 95.25 ft x 27.50 ft (normal load)
172.36 m / 172.36 m x 29.03 m x 8.38 m
Armament:
10 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (5x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1911 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 3 raised mounts - superfiring
17 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1911 Model
Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
on side, evenly spread
17 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in all but light seas
2 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1911 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns (4x2 guns), 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1911 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 15,016 lbs / 6,811 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 120
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Ends: 9.00" / 229 mm 265.00 ft / 80.77 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 82 % of normal length
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 6.00" / 152 mm 12.0" / 305 mm
2nd: 9.00" / 229 mm 9.00" / 229 mm 6.00" / 152 mm
3rd: 2.00" / 51 mm - -
4th: 1.00" / 25 mm - -
- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm
Machinery:
Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 34,004 ihp / 25,367 Kw = 21.00 kts
Range 7,300nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,939 tons (100% coal)
Complement:
1,055 - 1,372
Cost:
£2.729 million / $10.917 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,877 tons, 6.9 %
Armour: 9,797 tons, 36.2 %
- Belts: 4,487 tons, 16.6 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 2,808 tons, 10.4 %
- Armour Deck: 2,269 tons, 8.4 %
- Conning Tower: 233 tons, 0.9 %
Machinery: 2,259 tons, 8.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,818 tons, 36.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,194 tons, 11.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 140 tons, 0.5 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
29,724 lbs / 13,482 Kg = 21.7 x 14.0 " / 356 mm shells or 3.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 5.6 ft / 1.7 m
Roll period: 16.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.60
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.20
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.640
Length to Beam Ratio: 5.94 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 23.78 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 46 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
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: 26.50 ft / 8.08 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Mid (45 %): 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
- Stern: 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Average freeboard: 16.81 ft / 5.12 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 80.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 117.1 %
Waterplane Area: 40,885 Square feet or 3,798 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 92 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 182 lbs/sq ft or 889 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.35
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
-Ethan