Tankerace
Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003 From: Stillwater, OK, United States Status: offline
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I think you are right, this is the problems they wrestled with. 4 9.2s would have a considerable punch whilea total broadside would weigh 1,520 pounds. Now Hawkins 6 7.5" broadside (remember 1 gun couldn't fire on either broadside) weighs 1,200 pounds. So such a cruiser, while a less chance to hit, still has a heavier broadside than the preceeding class. Comparitively (using a US 8" Gun since the British don't have one yet) a 6 8" broadside would weigh 1,560 pounds, and an 8 gun broadside 2,080 pounds. So, using post treaty 8 inch guns (which are actually better in some respects) she can have a County style 2,080 pound broadside. But, in a logical 9.2" development of the Hawkins, without the treaty, she still gets a broadside increase of 320 pounds. If she could ship 5 9.2s (maybe lengthening the hull some 30 feet), with 2 forward, 2 rear, 1 in the center, her broadside weight would become 1,900 pounds, only 180 less than a historical County class cruiser, and 3 fewer mounts. SO my suggestion would be a slightly lengthened Hawkins, with 5 single 9.2"/50s.
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Designer of War Plan Orange Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition Naval Team Lead for War in the Med Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.
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