U schyłku XIX w. we Francji, w ramach realizacji idei Jeune Ecole, rozpoczęto przymiarki do budowy dużych krążowników pancernopokładowych przeznaczonych do działań na liniach komunikacyjnych. Bezpośrednim impulsem były ponoć amerykańskie krążowniki typu Columbia, o takim właśnie przeznaczeniu. Jeden z pierwszych takich projektów (o ile w ogóle nie pierwszy) określany jako „croiseur tres rapide” („bardzo szybki krążownik”) pochodził z 1894 r. i przewidywał sporych rozmiarów (8500 ton) jednostkę, stosunkowo lekko uzbrojoną i opancerzoną, ale za to o dobrej dzielności morskiej, dużym zasięgu i oczywiście dużej prędkości. Ostatecznie, pomysł ten wyewoluował w krążowniki Guichen z 1897 r. i Chateaurenault z 1898 r. Poniżej prezentuję moją symulację pierwotnego projektu, wspartą wizualizacją pochodzącą z forum shipbucket.com.
Maille-Breze, french protected cruiser laid down 1894 (Engine 1896)
Displacement:
7 486 t light; 7 758 t standard; 8 712 t normal; 9 476 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
427,00 ft / 424,02 ft x 51,05 ft x 25,00 ft (normal load)
130,15 m / 129,24 m x 15,56 m x 7,62 m
Armament:
2 - 6,46" / 164 mm guns in single mounts, 134,59lbs / 61,05kg shells, 1893 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on centreline ends, evenly spread
6 - 5,43" / 138 mm guns in single mounts, 80,19lbs / 36,37kg shells, 1893 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
8 - 1,85" / 47,0 mm guns in single mounts, 2,93lbs / 1,33kg shells, 1885 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 774 lbs / 351 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 200
2 - 17,7" / 450 mm submerged torpedo tubes
Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1,57" / 40 mm 0,98" / 25 mm -
2nd: 1,57" / 40 mm 0,98" / 25 mm -
- Armour deck: 2,05" / 52 mm (deck 1,57" / 40 mm, slopes 2,95" / 75 mm), Conning tower: 3,94" / 100 mm
Machinery:
Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 3 shafts, 21 143 ihp / 15 773 Kw = 22,10 kts
Range 7 000nm at 10,00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1 718 tons (100% coal)
Complement:
450 - 586
Cost:
£0,837 million / $3,346 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 97 tons, 1,1%
Armour: 659 tons, 7,6%
- Belts: 0 tons, 0,0%
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
- Armament: 44 tons, 0,5%
- Armour Deck: 579 tons, 6,7%
- Conning Tower: 36 tons, 0,4%
Machinery: 3 524 tons, 40,4%
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3 207 tons, 36,8%
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1 226 tons, 14,1%
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0,0%
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
5 597 lbs / 2 539 Kg = 41,6 x 6,5 " / 164 mm shells or 0,8 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,15
Metacentric height 2,4 ft / 0,7 m
Roll period: 13,9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,35
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 2,00
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0,564
Length to Beam Ratio: 8,31 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 20,59 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -25,00 degrees
Stern overhang: 2,99 ft / 0,91 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 35,89 ft / 10,94 m
- Forecastle (12%): 33,40 ft / 10,18 m
- Mid (50%): 27,92 ft / 8,51 m
- Quarterdeck (6%): 31,92 ft / 9,73 m
- Stern: 32,91 ft / 10,03 m
- Average freeboard: 30,86 ft / 9,41 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 144,7%
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 196,0%
Waterplane Area: 15 299 Square feet or 1 421 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103%
Structure weight / hull surface area: 77 lbs/sq ft or 377 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0,76
- Longitudinal: 10,72
- Overall: 1,00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather