South Dakota (1920) - 16.03.2010

Kolejny niezbudowany olbrzym – ofiara traktatu waszyngtońskiego: amerykański pancernik South Dakota (BB 49). W zasadzie to powiększona wersja poprzednich amerykańskich drednotów, których rozwiązania konstrukcyjne w dużej mierze wykorzystano w projekcie South Dakoty, celem przyspieszenia jego opracowania. W efekcie, trudno się oprzeć wrażeniu że okręt byłby raczej niespecjalnym przeciwnikiem dla brytyjskiego N3, uzbrojonego wdziała 18 calowe i ciężej opancerzonego, a jednocześnie nie miałby większych problemów z jakimkolwiek pancernikiem pierwszowojennej konstrukcji. Również w konfrontacji ze słabo opancerzonymi, aczkolwiek szybszymi, planowanymi okrętami japońskimi (o nich wkrótce) raczej powinien sobie radzić..

A oto jedna z artystycznych wizji South Dakoty i raport zespringsharpa: 

  

South Dakota, BB USA laid down 1920 (Engine 1924)

Displacement:
    39 624 t light; 41 966 t standard; 43 193 t normal; 44 174 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
    684,15 ft / 664,37 ft x 105,97 ft x 33,14 ft (normal load)
    208,53 m / 202,50 m x 32,30 m  x 10,10 m

Armament:
      12 - 15,98" / 406 mm guns (4x3 guns), 2 041,96lbs / 926,22kg shells, 1920 Model
      Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
      on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 5,98" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 107,15lbs / 48,60kg shells, 1920 Model
      Quick firing guns in casemate mounts
      on side, evenly spread
      4 - 5,98" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 107,15lbs / 48,60kg shells, 1920 Model
      Quick firing guns in deck mounts
      on side, all amidships
      6 - 2,99" / 76,0 mm guns in single mounts, 13,39lbs / 6,07kg shells, 1920 Model
      Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
      on side, evenly spread
    Weight of broadside 26 298 lbs / 11 929 kg
    Shells per gun, main battery: 100
    2 - 21,0" / 533 mm submerged torpedo tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)
    Main:    13,5" / 343 mm    455,38 ft / 138,80 m    16,40 ft / 5,00 m
    Ends:    12,0" / 305 mm      61,35 ft / 18,70 m    9,51 ft / 2,90 m
      147,64 ft / 45,00 m Unarmoured ends
    Upper:    13,5" / 343 mm    134,51 ft / 41,00 m    8,53 ft / 2,60 m
      Main Belt covers 105% of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
        2,76" / 70 mm    664,37 ft / 202,50 m    33,14 ft / 10,10 m

   - Gun armour:    Face (max)    Other gunhouse (avg)    Barbette/hoist (max)
    Main:    18,0" / 457 mm    10,0" / 254 mm        13,0" / 330 mm
    2nd:    10,0" / 254 mm          -                  -

   - Armour deck: 3,50" / 89 mm, Conning tower: 15,98" / 406 mm

Machinery:
    Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
    Geared drive, 4 shafts, 60 692 shp / 45 276 Kw = 23,00 kts
    Range 8 000nm at 10,00 kts
    Bunker at max displacement = 2 208 tons

Complement:
    1 497 - 1 947

Cost:
    £10,466 million / $41,865 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
    Armament: 3 287 tons, 7,6%
    Armour: 16 598 tons, 38,4%
       - Belts: 5 646 tons, 13,1%
       - Torpedo bulkhead: 2 245 tons, 5,2%
       - Armament: 4 794 tons, 11,1%
       - Armour Deck: 3 490 tons, 8,1%
       - Conning Tower: 424 tons, 1,0%
    Machinery: 1 999 tons, 4,6%
    Hull, fittings & equipment: 17 739 tons, 41,1%
    Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3 569 tons, 8,3%
    Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0,0%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
    Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
      55 297 lbs / 25 082 Kg = 27,1 x 16,0 " / 406 mm shells or 9,5 torpedoes
    Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,07
    Metacentric height 6,2 ft / 1,9 m
    Roll period: 17,9 seconds
    Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 75 %
            - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,98
    Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,49

Hull form characteristics:
    Hull has rise forward of midbreak
    Block coefficient: 0,648
    Length to Beam Ratio: 6,27 : 1
    'Natural speed' for length: 25,78 kts
    Power going to wave formation at top speed: 47 %
    Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
    Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 36,00 degrees
    Stern overhang: 0,00 ft / 0,00 m
    Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
       - Stem:        27,23 ft / 8,30 m
       - Forecastle (20%):    27,23 ft / 8,30 m
       - Mid (48%):        27,23 ft / 8,30 m (19,69 ft / 6,00 m aft of break)
       - Quarterdeck (15%):    19,69 ft / 6,00 m
       - Stern:        19,69 ft / 6,00 m
       - Average freeboard:    23,28 ft / 7,10 m
    Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
    Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 90,3%
        - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 156,9%
    Waterplane Area: 53 835 Square feet or 5 001 Square metres
    Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 92%
    Structure weight / hull surface area: 237 lbs/sq ft or 1 156 Kg/sq metre
    Hull strength (Relative):
        - Cross-sectional: 1,03
        - Longitudinal: 1,89
        - Overall: 1,10
    Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
    Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
    Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
    Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily