Pancernik absurdalny

Pamiętacie francuski „krążownik absurdalny”? Tamto było najprawdopodobniej tylko współczesną fantazją, ale okazuje się, że podobny pomysł mieli… Amerykanie. Otóż jeden z wstępnych wariantów typu North Carolina (Scheme F z lat 1934-35) przewidywał okręt z 8 działami 356 mm w dwóch wieżach na rufie oraz z wyposażeniem lotniczym na dziobie… To ostatnie miało być dość liczne, składać się bowiem miało z 2 dźwigów, 3 katapult i 8-12 wodnosamolotów, wraz z hangarem, i zajmować miało całą część dziobową. To wskazuje, że okręt należy postrzegać jako pancernik rozpoznawczy bądź eskortowy. Wyposażenie artyleryjskie natomiast zgrupowano w całości na rufie, w efekcie czego pas pancerny mógł być dość krótki. Co ciekawe, projekt ten cieszył się poparciem Roosevelta, który preferował takie okręty-hybrydy. Niemniej, nie przeszkodziło to temu, że przepadł on na dość wczesnym etapie.

 

North Carolina, United States battleship laid down 1935 (Engine 1938)

Displacement:
    33 971 t light; 35 576 t standard; 40 473 t normal; 44 389 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
    780,02 ft / 750,00 ft x 106,00 ft x 31,99 ft (normal load)
    237,75 m / 228,60 m x 32,31 m  x 9,75 m

Armament:
      8 - 14,02" / 356 mm guns (2x4 guns), 1 376,64lbs / 624,43kg shells, 1937 Model
      Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
      on centreline, all aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
      12 - 5,00" / 127 mm guns (6x2 guns), 62,50lbs / 28,35kg shells, 1932 Model
      Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
      on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 1,10" / 28,0 mm guns (4x4 guns), 0,67lbs / 0,30kg shells, 1929 Model
      Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
      on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      4 - 1,10" / 28,0 mm guns (1x4 guns), 0,67lbs / 0,30kg shells, 1929 Model
      Anti-aircraft guns in deck mount
      on centreline forward, all raised guns - superfiring
      6 - 0,30" / 7,6 mm guns in single mounts, 0,01lbs / 0,00kg shells, 1925 Model
      Machine guns in deck mounts
      on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
    Weight of broadside 11 777 lbs / 5 342 kg
    Shells per gun, main battery: 120

Armour:
   - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)
    Main:    17,0" / 432 mm    380,25 ft / 115,90 m    14,99 ft / 4,57 m
    Ends:    Unarmoured
      Main Belt covers 78% of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
        2,99" / 76 mm    380,25 ft / 115,90 m    29,69 ft / 9,05 m

   - Gun armour:    Face (max)    Other gunhouse (avg)    Barbette/hoist (max)
    Main:    18,0" / 457 mm    13,0" / 330 mm        18,0" / 457 mm
    2nd:    2,01" / 51 mm    0,98" / 25 mm        2,01" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 3,19" / 81 mm (6,26" / 159 mm over amidships), Conning tower: 17,99" / 457 mm

Machinery:
    Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
    Geared drive, 4 shafts, 151 217 shp / 112 808 Kw = 30,00 kts
    Range 13 500nm at 17,00 kts
    Bunker at max displacement = 8 813 tons

Complement:
    1 426 - 1 854

Cost:
    £15,299 million / $61,197 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
    Armament: 1 472 tons, 3,6%
    Armour: 11 956 tons, 29,5%
       - Belts: 4 424 tons, 10,9%
       - Torpedo bulkhead: 1 250 tons, 3,1%
       - Armament: 2 530 tons, 6,3%
       - Armour Deck: 3 295 tons, 8,1%
       - Conning Tower: 457 tons, 1,1%
    Machinery: 4 141 tons, 10,2%
    Hull, fittings & equipment: 16 028 tons, 39,6%
    Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6 502 tons, 16,1%
    Miscellaneous weights: 375 tons, 0,9%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
    Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
      71 783 lbs / 32 560 Kg = 52,1 x 14,0 " / 356 mm shells or 11,7 torpedoes
    Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,12
    Metacentric height 6,7 ft / 2,1 m
    Roll period: 17,2 seconds
    Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 72 %
            - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,61
    Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,45

Hull form characteristics:
    Hull has rise forward of midbreak
    Block coefficient: 0,557
    Length to Beam Ratio: 7,08 : 1
    'Natural speed' for length: 27,39 kts
    Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
    Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
    Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30,00 degrees
    Stern overhang: 8,99 ft / 2,74 m
    Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
       - Stem:        36,42 ft / 11,10 m
       - Forecastle (27%):    36,42 ft / 11,10 m
       - Mid (65%):        28,41 ft / 8,66 m (18,44 ft / 5,62 m aft of break)
       - Quarterdeck (16%):    19,46 ft / 5,93 m
       - Stern:        23,43 ft / 7,14 m
       - Average freeboard:    29,17 ft / 8,89 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
    Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77,2%
        - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 208,6%
    Waterplane Area: 55 850 Square feet or 5 189 Square metres
    Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 125%
    Structure weight / hull surface area: 194 lbs/sq ft or 949 Kg/sq metre
    Hull strength (Relative):
        - Cross-sectional: 0,93
        - Longitudinal: 1,96
        - Overall: 1,00
    Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
    Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
    Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
    Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

3 catapults, 12 seaplanes