Aztec Ships of the Mid Thirties, a Tale of Three Navies

[Kaiser Kirk]

I've basically come to the unfortunate conclusion that I'm just not going to be able to make that ship work.  Not that it's an awful thing, but unless I can get those capabilities for 750t or less, the efficiency loss just isn't worth it vice a bunch of 80t MTB-Hs.  For general patrol work I have the OPV-28 and OPV-33 series that I'm quite happy with, these would have been torpedo-heavy ships mostly for the Caribbean. 

Yeah that mix will take a larger ship.

Mine was also meant for dashing out of littoral waters into the shipping lanes and attacking merchants and supporting elements. So its a coal/oil mix and slower with 18" torps and 2x115mm.
Different role envisioned entirely..and I still couldn't get it under 500t.

On the topic of torps vs. ships, I only recently read about HMS Glowworm vs. Hipper, missed with 5 torps at 870yards, but managed to ram !

Edit : Looking about I have a 31knt (33.39 trial), 2T1 x 90mm, 12x21" 3t, 492t design that cuts to the bone...and still doesn't make it.
Of course that was a 1925 design.

[The Rock Doctor]

My primary problem with 500t boats is trying to match normal destroyer speeds with adequate seakeeping.  It just isn't realistic to expect anything approaching 1.00 on a hull that small and fast, but we've normalized it as the requirement.

[Jefgte]

We must clearly define the role of these 500t.
Making half destroyers with 500t is illusory.
It is necessary to make concessions.

The latest 500t Byzantine TGB for colonial use, escort and close protection seems correct to me.

[Kaiser Kirk]

We must clearly define the role of these 500t.
Making half destroyers with 500t is illusory.
It is necessary to make concessions.

The latest 500t Byzantine TGB for colonial use, escort and close protection seems correct to me.

Which was the same general goals of my 500t.
The Pesh-Kabr was 460t and intended as colonial patrol, but also a MTB leader / mercantile raider - but not a fleet destroyer.

[TacCovert4]

We must clearly define the role of these 500t.
Making half destroyers with 500t is illusory.
It is necessary to make concessions.

The latest 500t Byzantine TGB for colonial use, escort and close protection seems correct to me.

I have OPVs for colonial use and escort, those have just a couple of torpedoes and are pretty slow but long ranged and very effective ASW and even a decent for size surface and air suite.

When I think GTB for my meta, I think of what the GTB-Z was originally built for. That is high speed night torpedo attacks against enemy fleets.  As they're for littoral waters and the Caribbean only, I can get away with reduced seakeeping at high speed because they simply don't need that seakeeping in their role.  If I get a chance this week I'll play around with making one with a single 90mm gun instead of the 2-3 I was trying to fit, a couple of 30 or 40mm AA guns, and see if I can get enough torpedoes and at least a few tons into night scopes for making them effective torpedo-launching platforms.

[TacCovert4]

I spent an hour and change fiddling with GTBs between 500 and 600t, just couldn't get anything to work to my satisfaction, is what it is.

Meanwhile, the R-Class was built as a crash program after the Caicos War.  Originally devised as high speed raiders to force the Roman fleet to disperse to hunt them in a future conflict, the RAN has moved on to where they're part of the cruiser screen and cruiser killers.  But laid down in 1916, they're extremely out of date at this point.  Their secondary is barely adequate, their AA is definitively out of date, their armor is quite iffy for a ship this size, and their main battery protection is also lacking to a degree.  But they are fast.  And potent ships that have to be contended with by any nation's cruisers.

So a major refurb project.  Replace the engines, which allows for the same range, but a two knot increase in cruising speed, on the same bunkerage.  While the fleet speed of the RAN has been 14kts for over a decade, and there is little apparent need for a drastic change, these ships are meant for independent operations where higher speeds are useful.  The secondary is replaced with DP guns, and ammo capacity improves substantially.  The four 70mm AA guns are replaced with three rotary 40mm mounts, and the 8mm machine guns are replaced with 30mm AA guns.  Three full emplacements of NF devices are tacked on, as are two floatplanes....and two quintuple Torpedo Launchers, an admission that these ships cannot stand up gun for gun with all of the large fast battleships around now....but torpedoes in the water can make the difference, especially at night.

Finally, the armor on the main turrets is upgraded, and a 40mm deck is added above the main deck to bring it up to an adequate deck in this age of plunging fire and potentially bomb impacts from level bombers.

R-Class, Aztec Razee laid down 1916 (Engine 1935)

Displacement:
    20,972 t light; 21,937 t standard; 24,095 t normal; 25,821 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
    (733.37 ft / 725.07 ft) x 75.46 ft x (26.57 / 28.11 ft)
    (223.53 m / 221.00 m) x 23.00 m  x (8.10 / 8.57 m)

Armament:
      6 - 11.02" / 280 mm 50.0 cal guns - 709.07lbs / 321.63kg shells, 110 per gun
      Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1916 Model
      3 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
        1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 4.72" / 120 mm 55.0 cal guns - 56.91lbs / 25.81kg shells, 400 per gun
      Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1935 Model
      6 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
      12 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 2.07lbs / 0.94kg shells, 4,000 per gun
      Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1935 Model
      2 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, forward deck aft
        2 raised mounts
      1 x 4 row quad mount on centreline, aft deck centre
        1 raised mount
      16 - 1.18" / 30.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.87lbs / 0.40kg shells, 2,000 per gun
      Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1935 Model
      16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 4,976 lbs / 2,257 kg

Armour:
  - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)
    Main:    6.69" / 170 mm    557.74 ft / 170.00 m    16.40 ft / 5.00 m
    Ends:    1.97" / 50 mm    164.04 ft / 50.00 m    16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      3.28 ft / 1.00 m Unarmoured ends
      Main Belt covers 118 % of normal length

  - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
        1.18" / 30 mm    492.13 ft / 150.00 m    26.25 ft / 8.00 m
    Beam between torpedo bulkheads 65.62 ft / 20.00 m

  - Gun armour:    Face (max)    Other gunhouse (avg)    Barbette/hoist (max)
    Main:    6.69" / 170 mm    3.94" / 100 mm        6.69" / 170 mm
    2nd:    2.76" / 70 mm    1.57" / 40 mm        1.97" / 50 mm
    3rd:    0.79" / 20 mm    0.79" / 20 mm        0.79" / 20 mm

  - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
    For and Aft decks: 3.94" / 100 mm
    Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.57" / 40 mm

  - Conning towers: Forward 3.94" / 100 mm, Aft 3.94" / 100 mm

Machinery:
    Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
    Electric motors, 4 shafts, 139,349 shp / 103,954 Kw = 32.00 kts
    Range 11,983nm at 14.00 kts
    Bunker at max displacement = 3,884 tons

Complement:
    966 - 1,257

Cost:
    £2.969 million / $11.875 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
    Armament: 1,067 tons, 4.4 %
      - Guns: 1,067 tons, 4.4 %
    Armour: 6,692 tons, 27.8 %
      - Belts: 2,659 tons, 11.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 564 tons, 2.3 %
      - Armament: 804 tons, 3.3 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,523 tons, 10.5 %
      - Conning Towers: 142 tons, 0.6 %
    Machinery: 3,959 tons, 16.4 %
    Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,699 tons, 32.0 %
    Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,122 tons, 13.0 %
    Miscellaneous weights: 1,556 tons, 6.5 %
      - Hull below water: 1,100 tons
      - Hull above water: 203 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 100 tons
      - Above deck: 153 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
    Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
      31,315 lbs / 14,204 Kg = 46.8 x 11.0 " / 280 mm shells or 4.1 torpedoes
    Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
    Metacentric height 4.2 ft / 1.3 m
    Roll period: 15.5 seconds
    Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
            - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.51
    Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
    Hull has a flush deck,
      a normal bow and a cruiser stern
    Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.580 / 0.588
    Length to Beam Ratio: 9.61 : 1
    'Natural speed' for length: 26.93 kts
    Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
    Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
    Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 degrees
    Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
    Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
                Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:    20.00 %,  23.62 ft / 7.20 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Forward deck:    30.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Aft deck:    35.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Quarter deck:    15.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Average freeboard:        20.89 ft / 6.37 m
    Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
    Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 92.2 %
        - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 158.3 %
    Waterplane Area: 39,274 Square feet or 3,649 Square metres
    Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
    Structure weight / hull surface area: 136 lbs/sq ft or 664 Kg/sq metre
    Hull strength (Relative):
        - Cross-sectional: 1.00
        - Longitudinal: 1.06
        - Overall: 1.00
    Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
    Excellent accommodation and workspace room

990t - Electric Drives
110t - Additional Pumps

50t - Additional FC Spaces (Combat Information Center)
100t - Additional DC Equipment

60t - 2 x Armed Floatplane and Catapult Amidships
40t - 2 x 5 x 21in HW TT on sides Aft

106t - 1930 FC
25t - LR Radio
75t - NF Devices


40mm Decapping/Bomb Deck over 60mm Main Deck

[TacCovert4]

An alternate plan for the Mercury.....drops some armor for more speed, and loses 2000 tons in the process.  Also gains two more aircraft incidentally.  The logic on the armor loss is that even 300mm of armor wasn't going to be enough to fend off the shells battlewagons are throwing around, while 240mm is enough to fend off anything up to and including a 280mm gun, which is sufficient to make them proof against all cruisers.....given they're functionally battlecruisers, this seems to check out.

Mercury, Aztec Razee laid down 1934

Displacement:
   24,881 t light; 26,210 t standard; 28,266 t normal; 29,910 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (759.22 ft / 754.59 ft) x 91.86 ft x (24.61 / 25.76 ft)
   (231.41 m / 230.00 m) x 28.00 m  x (7.50 / 7.85 m)

Armament:
      6 - 14.17" / 360 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1,435.69lbs / 651.22kg shells, 100 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1934 Model
     2 x 3-gun mounts on centreline, forward evenly spread
      1 raised mount
      16 - 4.72" / 120 mm 50.0 cal guns - 55.82lbs / 25.32kg shells, 400 per gun
     Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1934 Model
     6 x Twin mounts on sides, aft evenly spread
     2 x Twin mounts on centreline, aft deck aft
      1 raised mount - superfiring
      16 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 55.0 cal guns - 2.12lbs / 0.96kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1934 Model
     4 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, aft evenly spread
      16 - 1.18" / 30.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.86lbs / 0.39kg shells, 1,500 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1934 Model
     16 x Single mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 9,555 lbs / 4,334 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   8.66" / 220 mm   490.49 ft / 149.50 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
   Ends:   2.95" / 75 mm   264.07 ft / 80.49 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
     Main Belt inclined -15.00 degrees (positive = in)

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
      1.57" / 40 mm   490.49 ft / 149.50 m   23.95 ft / 7.30 m
   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 68.90 ft / 21.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   11.0" / 280 mm   5.91" / 150 mm      9.45" / 240 mm
   2nd:   2.76" / 70 mm   1.57" / 40 mm      2.76" / 70 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm   0.98" / 25 mm      0.98" / 25 mm
   4th:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -

   - Armoured deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 3.54" / 90 mm
   Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.77" / 45 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 5.91" / 150 mm, Aft 5.91" / 150 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 120,748 shp / 90,078 Kw = 30.00 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,700 tons

Complement:
   1,089 - 1,416

Cost:
   £11.103 million / $44.411 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2,033 tons, 7.2 %
      - Guns: 2,033 tons, 7.2 %
   Armour: 7,980 tons, 28.2 %
      - Belts: 2,723 tons, 9.6 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 684 tons, 2.4 %
      - Armament: 1,418 tons, 5.0 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,917 tons, 10.3 %
      - Conning Towers: 236 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 3,474 tons, 12.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,960 tons, 38.8 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,385 tons, 12.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 435 tons, 1.5 %
      - Hull above water: 100 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 110 tons
      - Above deck: 225 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     42,555 lbs / 19,303 Kg = 29.9 x 14.2 " / 360 mm shells or 6.5 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 5.3 ft / 1.6 m
   Roll period: 16.8 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 66 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.63
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.580 / 0.586
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.21 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 27.47 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 62
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  26.25 ft / 8.00 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      21.10 ft / 6.43 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 94.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 177.9 %
   Waterplane Area: 49,759 Square feet or 4,623 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 174 lbs/sq ft or 850 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.99
      - Longitudinal: 1.10
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

25t - LR Radio
50t - NF Devices x 2
200t - 1918 FC
50t - Squadron Flagship Facilities
110t - 2 x Catapult and 4 x Armed Floatplane


Belt is 240mm in Upper Half, Tapering to 160mm in Lower Half

Deck is 90mm with 20mm Splinter

[TacCovert4]

The alternate ship for this role would be this, a Princess Royal, updated with 1934 engines and weight savings going to give her a bit more protection than the original.  Basically the choice is between the firepower of the 360mm and the volume of the 240mm.

Princess Royal, Aztec Razee laid down 1934

Displacement:
   21,168 t light; 22,296 t standard; 24,167 t normal; 25,664 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (759.51 ft / 754.59 ft) x 88.58 ft x (22.97 / 24.09 ft)
   (231.50 m / 230.00 m) x 27.00 m  x (7.00 / 7.34 m)

Armament:
      12 - 9.45" / 240 mm 50.0 cal guns - 446.53lbs / 202.54kg shells, 120 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1934 Model
     4 x 3-gun mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 4.72" / 120 mm 50.0 cal guns - 55.82lbs / 25.32kg shells, 400 per gun
     Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1934 Model
     8 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
      16 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 55.0 cal guns - 2.11lbs / 0.96kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1934 Model
     4 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      20 - 1.18" / 30.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.87lbs / 0.40kg shells, 1,500 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1934 Model
     10 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 6,303 lbs / 2,859 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.09" / 180 mm   490.49 ft / 149.50 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
   Ends:   2.95" / 75 mm   264.07 ft / 80.49 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
     Main Belt inclined -15.00 degrees (positive = in)

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
      1.57" / 40 mm   490.49 ft / 149.50 m   21.10 ft / 6.43 m
   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 68.90 ft / 21.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   7.87" / 200 mm   3.94" / 100 mm      6.69" / 170 mm
   2nd:   2.76" / 70 mm   1.57" / 40 mm      2.76" / 70 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm   0.98" / 25 mm      0.98" / 25 mm
   4th:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -

   - Armoured deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 3.35" / 85 mm
   Forecastle: 1.06" / 27 mm  Quarter deck: 1.57" / 40 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 4.53" / 115 mm, Aft 4.53" / 115 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 108,060 shp / 80,613 Kw = 30.00 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,368 tons

Complement:
   968 - 1,259

Cost:
   £9.006 million / $36.025 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,907 tons, 7.9 %
      - Guns: 1,907 tons, 7.9 %
   Armour: 6,860 tons, 28.4 %
      - Belts: 2,289 tons, 9.5 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 603 tons, 2.5 %
      - Armament: 1,218 tons, 5.0 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,588 tons, 10.7 %
      - Conning Towers: 163 tons, 0.7 %
   Machinery: 3,109 tons, 12.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,876 tons, 36.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,999 tons, 12.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 416 tons, 1.7 %
      - Hull above water: 96 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 100 tons
      - Above deck: 220 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     39,836 lbs / 18,069 Kg = 94.4 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 6.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
   Roll period: 16.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.49
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.14

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.551 / 0.558
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.52 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 27.47 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 61
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  27.89 ft / 8.50 m,  24.61 ft / 7.50 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  24.61 ft / 7.50 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      21.67 ft / 6.60 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 88.1 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 191.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 46,693 Square feet or 4,338 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 122 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 154 lbs/sq ft or 751 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 1.03
      - Longitudinal: 0.99
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

25t - LR Radio
50t - NF Devices x 2
191t - 1918 FC
50t - Squadron Flagship Facilities
40t - 2x5x21in HW TT on sides Aft
60t - 2 x Catapult and Armed Floatplane

[TacCovert4]

And something a lot more radical, taking to mind Kirk's thoughts on high cruising speed.  A return to the 11in gun style, but as it's built now it's pre-modernized.  Gone is the electric drive, and the savings go to boilers and turbines....and bringing the armor up to something adequate to fend off the relatively heavy heavy cruisers that would be this ship's natural prey.  Very High top end speed, and experimenting with both a moderately long range and a very high cruising speed. 

R-Class, Aztec Razee laid down 1934

Displacement:
   25,737 t light; 26,873 t standard; 31,186 t normal; 34,636 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (796.61 ft / 787.40 ft) x 91.86 ft x (26.02 / 28.34 ft)
   (242.81 m / 240.00 m) x 28.00 m  x (7.93 / 8.64 m)

Armament:
      6 - 11.02" / 280 mm 50.0 cal guns - 709.07lbs / 321.63kg shells, 110 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1934 Model
     3 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
      1 raised mount - superfiring
      14 - 4.72" / 120 mm 55.0 cal guns - 56.91lbs / 25.81kg shells, 400 per gun
     Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1934 Model
     6 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
     1 x Twin mount on centreline, aft deck centre
      1 raised mount
      16 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 2.07lbs / 0.94kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1934 Model
     2 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      2 raised mounts
     2 x 4 row quad mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 double raised mounts
      24 - 0.47" / 12.0 mm 70.0 cal guns - 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 3,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1934 Model
     12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 5,086 lbs / 2,307 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   8.27" / 210 mm   551.18 ft / 168.00 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
   Ends:   2.95" / 75 mm   236.19 ft / 71.99 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
     Main Belt covers 108 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
      1.57" / 40 mm   551.18 ft / 168.00 m   24.31 ft / 7.41 m
   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 72.18 ft / 22.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9.45" / 240 mm   4.33" / 110 mm      7.87" / 200 mm
   2nd:   2.76" / 70 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      2.76" / 70 mm
   3rd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.79" / 20 mm      0.79" / 20 mm

   - Armoured deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 3.54" / 90 mm
   Forecastle: 1.18" / 30 mm  Quarter deck: 1.57" / 40 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 5.12" / 130 mm, Aft 5.12" / 130 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 206,413 shp / 153,984 Kw = 34.00 kts
   Range 9,000nm at 20.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 7,763 tons

Complement:
   1,173 - 1,525

Cost:
   £11.154 million / $44.614 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,099 tons, 3.5 %
      - Guns: 1,099 tons, 3.5 %
   Armour: 7,949 tons, 25.5 %
      - Belts: 2,814 tons, 9.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 781 tons, 2.5 %
      - Armament: 1,016 tons, 3.3 %
      - Armour Deck: 3,119 tons, 10.0 %
      - Conning Towers: 218 tons, 0.7 %
   Machinery: 5,938 tons, 19.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,513 tons, 33.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,449 tons, 17.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 237 tons, 0.8 %
      - Hull above water: 52 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 60 tons
      - Above deck: 125 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     45,181 lbs / 20,494 Kg = 67.5 x 11.0 " / 280 mm shells or 6.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.17
   Metacentric height 5.9 ft / 1.8 m
   Roll period: 15.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.34
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.580 / 0.591
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.57 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 28.06 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 68
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  27.89 ft / 8.50 m,  26.25 ft / 8.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  26.25 ft / 8.00 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Aft deck:   40.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   10.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      24.25 ft / 7.39 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 100.4 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 199.6 %
   Waterplane Area: 51,922 Square feet or 4,824 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 124 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 147 lbs/sq ft or 719 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.99
      - Longitudinal: 1.05
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

102t - 1930 FC
50t - NF Devices x 2
25t - LR Radio

60t - 2 x Catapult and Armed Floatplane

[Kaiser Kirk]

I rather expected the 300mm Razees to start a new AC race, and I think if life hadn't gotten so hectic for poor Snip, perhaps there'd be a reply that would have sparked that race.

I find the "cost" of replacing that much belt armor fairly high.
Installing the extra deck armor as a splinter 'protective' deck may be a better use of the tonnage,
as you get protection vs. bombs, and it backs up the belt.

Hmm, the rules cover going to Electric drive when changing power plants,
but not going from Electric to something else. Pretty sure the USN installed geared drives during some refits, so that should not be an issue.

The primary problem with Electric drive was apparently the wt:KW stayed roughly the same, while other methods did not.

I wasn't sure anyone would read my blathering on high cruise speed :)

[TacCovert4]

I rather expected the 300mm Razees to start a new AC race, and I think if life hadn't gotten so hectic for poor Snip, perhaps there'd be a reply that would have sparked that race.

I find the "cost" of replacing that much belt armor fairly high.
Installing the extra deck armor as a splinter 'protective' deck may be a better use of the tonnage,
as you get protection vs. bombs, and it backs up the belt.

Hmm, the rules cover going to Electric drive when changing power plants,
but not going from Electric to something else. Pretty sure the USN installed geared drives during some refits, so that should not be an issue.

The primary problem with Electric drive was apparently the wt:KW stayed roughly the same, while other methods did not.

I wasn't sure anyone would read my blathering on high cruise speed :)

There was a bit of an error on my part, for some reason it pasted a refit instead of the actual Mercury report, I've edited the post a couple up from here to show the actual Mercury-class 360mm ship.

And I agree on the armor and whatnot, which is why in my actual refits of the R-class from the late 19-teens, the only armor change is adding deck armor, and/or applique onto the main turrets which were quite a bit deficient in armor in some cases.

None of the designs involve refitting from electric drives, that last R-class 280mm razee is a redesign for new construction in 1934....the old R-class had electric drives because that was what I had to use.....the 1934 design takes advantage of the weight savings of more modern powerplant design to pack on more speed. 

And yes I saw your blathering.......I'm experimenting, can't say I'll go with it, but it's worth the experiment.