Buques des Canonera

[The Rock Doctor]

Monitors - discounting those built exclusively for river service, such as Pescador

Antonio Jose de Sucre class - 1 unit projected

[The Rock Doctor]

Known affectionately to some as Nutcracker, this vessel is officially named for the famous general of the Wars of Independence. 

The monitor is primarily a test-bed for the triple 35cm turret that will also be used on the Radiante class battleships.  Although they happen to be laid down around the same time, the monitor will be completed nearly two years sooner - providing a fair bit of time to work out whatever bugs lurk in the main battery.

Full fire control is provided, and the hull is extensively armored.  Range is modest, but she's not exactly built for sailing across oceans.

The vessel is also expected to be used for shore defence, coastal bombardment, amphibious support, and perhaps in a training role.



FM-01, Antonio Jose de Sucre, laid down 1915


Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1950 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
   7,519 t light; 7,939 t standard; 8,406 t normal; 8,779 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   331.36 ft / 331.36 ft x 88.58 ft x 15.42 ft (normal load)
   101.00 m / 101.00 m x 27.00 m  x 4.70 m

Armament:
      3 - 13.78" / 350 mm guns (1x3 guns), 1,308.20lbs / 593.39kg shells, 1950 Model
     Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
     on centreline forward, all raised guns
      2 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1950 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all forward
      4 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1950 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all aft, 1 raised mount
      1 - 2.56" / 65.0 mm guns in single mounts, 8.38lbs / 3.80kg shells, 1950 Model
     Anti-aircraft gun in deck mount
     on centreline aft, 1 raised gun
      2 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1950 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 4,435 lbs / 2,012 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.94" / 100 mm   215.39 ft / 65.65 m   14.44 ft / 4.40 m
   Ends:   0.98" / 25 mm   115.94 ft / 35.34 m   14.44 ft / 4.40 m
   Upper:   0.98" / 25 mm     96.13 ft / 29.30 m   8.01 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1.97" / 50 mm   215.39 ft / 65.65 m   14.80 ft / 4.51 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   11.8" / 300 mm   2.95" / 75 mm      7.87" / 200 mm
   2nd:   1.97" / 50 mm         -         2.95" / 75 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   4th:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 2.95" / 75 mm, Conning tower: 3.94" / 100 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 4,039 shp / 3,013 Kw = 13.56 kts
   Range 6,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 840 tons)

Complement:
   438 - 570

Cost:
   £5.875 million / $23.499 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 554 tons, 6.6 %
   Armour: 2,555 tons, 30.4 %
      - Belts: 685 tons, 8.2 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 232 tons, 2.8 %
      - Armament: 374 tons, 4.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,228 tons, 14.6 %
      - Conning Tower: 35 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 161 tons, 1.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,944 tons, 46.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 887 tons, 10.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 305 tons, 3.6 %
   -250 t:  Fire Control
   -30 t:  Weight Reserve
   -25 t:  Long-Range Wireless


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     10,519 lbs / 4,771 Kg = 8.0 x 13.8 " / 350 mm shells or 3.0 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
   Metacentric height 6.1 ft / 1.9 m
   Roll period: 15.0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.23
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.650
   Length to Beam Ratio: 3.74 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 18.20 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 40 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 66
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -1.64 ft / -0.50 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      12.80 ft / 3.90 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   12.80 ft / 3.90 m (9.84 ft / 3.00 m aft of break)
      - 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:   10.43 ft / 3.18 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 96.2 %
   Waterplane Area: 22,486 Square feet or 2,089 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 110 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 155 lbs/sq ft or 755 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.93
      - Longitudinal: 1.89
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform