The Emperor Trajan VIII class embodies the hardness of the transition from Mix Main Battery, coal fires and VTE population. Originally intended to be an improved Triumphus class with updated guns, word of what was being built by other navies forced a change. Stretching the hull allowed accommodation of an additional turret of 340mm weapons at the expense of the 210mm guns. This did not come without sacrifices, and sticking with pure reciprocating propulsion or pure coal would have caused many issues while keeping roughly the same hull form. Major pushback from the Admiralty prevented installation of either a pure turbine power plant or a full compliment of oil-fired boilers. A compromise emerged with the mixed propulsion setup and the incorporation of oil spraying to help cut down on weight. Representing a slew of compromises and deals that left everyone displeased, the Emperor Trajan VIII class set the stage for the Imperial Navy's first Dreadnaughts in a less than satisfactory manner, which would bleed into the Invicta class.

Ships in Class: Two
--IRS Emperor Trajan VIII
--IRS Supremus

QuoteEmperor Trajan VIII, Roman Imperial Republic Battleship laid down 1905

Displacement:
   15,500 t light; 16,446 t standard; 17,429 t normal; 18,215 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (465.88 ft / 459.32 ft) x 82.02 ft x (24.61 / 25.55 ft)
   (142.00 m / 140.00 m) x 25.00 m  x (7.50 / 7.79 m)

Armament:
      6 - 13.39" / 340 mm 40.0 cal guns - 1,157.43lbs / 525.00kg shells, 100 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1905 Model
     3 x Twin mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      16 - 5.51" / 140 mm 50.0 cal guns - 85.98lbs / 39.00kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1902 Model
     16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      8 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 13.23lbs / 6.00kg shells, 350 per gun
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1902 Model
     8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 8,426 lbs / 3,822 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   11.8" / 300 mm   298.56 ft / 91.00 m   18.04 ft / 5.50 m
   Ends:   3.54" / 90 mm   160.73 ft / 48.99 m   9.84 ft / 3.00 m
   Upper:   4.72" / 120 mm   298.56 ft / 91.00 m   9.02 ft / 2.75 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   13.4" / 340 mm   7.09" / 180 mm      11.0" / 280 mm
   2nd:   4.72" / 120 mm   1.97" / 50 mm      1.97" / 50 mm
   3rd:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.20" / 5 mm      0.98" / 25 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 2.95" / 75 mm
   Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 0.98" / 25 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 9.84" / 250 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, reciprocating cruising steam engines and steam turbines
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 16,000 ihp / 11,936 Kw = 18.17 kts
   Range 5,500nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,769 tons (90% coal)

Complement:
   757 - 985

Cost:
   £1.430 million / $5.719 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,349 tons, 7.7 %
      - Guns: 1,349 tons, 7.7 %
   Armour: 6,781 tons, 38.9 %
      - Belts: 3,643 tons, 20.9 %
      - Armament: 1,595 tons, 9.2 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,400 tons, 8.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 143 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 1,676 tons, 9.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,437 tons, 31.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,929 tons, 11.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 257 tons, 1.5 %
      - Hull below water: 27 tons
      - Hull above water: 100 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 90 tons
      - Above deck: 40 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     29,921 lbs / 13,572 Kg = 24.9 x 13.4 " / 340 mm shells or 3.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.39
   Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
   Roll period: 13.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.58
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.94

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has low quarterdeck ,
     a ram bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.658 / 0.662
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.60 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.43 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 36
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -4.92 ft / -1.50 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  21.33 ft / 6.50 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  11.48 ft / 3.50 m,  11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Average freeboard:      19.22 ft / 5.86 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 67.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 150.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 29,067 Square feet or 2,700 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 148 lbs/sq ft or 724 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.91
      - Longitudinal: 2.22
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Misc Distribution
--Below Water (27t)
----18t 12x450mm Torpedo (45 Pattern B)
----2t Additional Torpedo handling equipment
----5t Additional Pumps
--Above Water (100t)
----30t Flag Facilities
----30t Additional Troop Accommodations
----20t Improved Officer Accommodations
----20t Improved Crew Accommodations
----10t Short-Range Wireless
--On Deck (90t)
----30t Flag Facilities
----20t Admiralty Accommodations
----25t Long-Range Wireless
----15t Construction Reserve
--Above Deck (40t)
----20t Improved Aquisition Structures
----10t Additional Searchlights
----10t Improved Signaling Equipment

In 1914H1 both ships were refit with Fire Control

QuoteEmperor Trajan VIII, Roman Imperial Republic Battleship laid down 1905

Displacement:
   15,500 t light; 16,446 t standard; 17,429 t normal; 18,215 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (465.88 ft / 459.32 ft) x 82.02 ft x (24.61 / 25.55 ft)
   (142.00 m / 140.00 m) x 25.00 m  x (7.50 / 7.79 m)

Armament:
      6 - 13.39" / 340 mm 40.0 cal guns - 1,157.43lbs / 525.00kg shells, 100 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1905 Model
     3 x Twin mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      16 - 5.51" / 140 mm 50.0 cal guns - 85.98lbs / 39.00kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1902 Model
     16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      8 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 13.23lbs / 6.00kg shells, 350 per gun
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1902 Model
     8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 8,426 lbs / 3,822 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   11.8" / 300 mm   298.56 ft / 91.00 m   18.04 ft / 5.50 m
   Ends:   3.54" / 90 mm   160.73 ft / 48.99 m   9.84 ft / 3.00 m
   Upper:   4.72" / 120 mm   298.56 ft / 91.00 m   9.02 ft / 2.75 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   13.4" / 340 mm   7.09" / 180 mm      11.0" / 280 mm
   2nd:   4.72" / 120 mm   1.97" / 50 mm      1.97" / 50 mm
   3rd:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.20" / 5 mm      0.98" / 25 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 2.95" / 75 mm
   Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 0.98" / 25 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 9.84" / 250 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, reciprocating cruising steam engines and steam turbines
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 16,000 ihp / 11,936 Kw = 18.17 kts
   Range 5,500nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,769 tons (90% coal)

Complement:
   757 - 985

Cost:
   £1.430 million / $5.719 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,349 tons, 7.7 %
      - Guns: 1,349 tons, 7.7 %
   Armour: 6,781 tons, 38.9 %
      - Belts: 3,643 tons, 20.9 %
      - Armament: 1,595 tons, 9.2 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,400 tons, 8.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 143 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 1,676 tons, 9.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,437 tons, 31.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,929 tons, 11.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 257 tons, 1.5 %
      - Hull below water: 27 tons
      - Hull above water: 100 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 90 tons
      - Above deck: 40 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     29,921 lbs / 13,572 Kg = 24.9 x 13.4 " / 340 mm shells or 3.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.39
   Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
   Roll period: 13.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.58
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.94

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has low quarterdeck ,
     a ram bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.658 / 0.662
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.60 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.43 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 36
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -4.92 ft / -1.50 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  21.33 ft / 6.50 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  11.48 ft / 3.50 m,  11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Average freeboard:      19.22 ft / 5.86 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 67.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 150.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 29,067 Square feet or 2,700 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 148 lbs/sq ft or 724 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.91
      - Longitudinal: 2.22
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Misc Distribution
--Below Water (27t)
----18t 12x450mm Torpedo (45 Pattern B)
----2t Additional Torpedo handling equipment
----5t Additional Pumps
--Above Water (100t)
----30t Flag Facilities
----30t 1912 Fire Control
----20t Improved Officer Accommodations
----20t Improved Crew Accommodations
----10t Short-Range Wireless
--On Deck (90t)
----90t 1912 Fire Control
--Above Deck (40t)
----15t 1912 Fire Control
----5t Improved Acquisition Structures
----10t Additional Searchlights
----10t Improved Signaling Equipment

In 1922H1, both ships of this class were updated to 1918 Fire Control.