(1884) Bucentaure Class - LB

-- Overview --

Class of three ships: Bucentaure, Hercule, and Austerlitz. Built from January 1884, to July 1885. Design featured increased speed of 17 knots over the proceeding Gloire Class.

-- Design --

Bucentaure Class, Celtica BB laid down 1884

Displacement:

   9,354 t light; 9,816 t standard; 10,710 t normal; 11,425 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)

   (350.00 ft / 350.00 ft) x 70.00 ft x (25.50 / 26.90 ft)

   (106.68 m / 106.68 m) x 21.34 m  x (7.77 / 8.20 m)

Armament:

     4 - 12.99" / 330 mm 30.0 cal guns - 999.99lbs / 453.59kg shells, 60 per gun

     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1880 Model

     2 x 2-gun mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread

     12 - 5.91" / 150 mm 35.0 cal guns - 80.01lbs / 36.29kg shells, 150 per gun

     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1880 Model

     12 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward

     12 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm 40.0 cal guns - 20.00lbs / 9.07kg shells, 250 per gun

     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1880 Model

     12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread

       12 raised mounts

     4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 40.0 cal guns - 2.01lbs / 0.91kg shells, 400 per gun

     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1880 Model

     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread

       4 raised mounts

     Weight of broadside 5,208 lbs / 2,362 kg

     Main Torpedoes

     4 - 17.7" / 450 mm, 9.84 ft / 3.00 m torpedoes - 0.192 t each, 0.767 t total

   submerged side tubes

Armour:

  - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)

   Main:    13.0" / 330 mm    220.50 ft / 67.21 m    9.50 ft / 2.90 m

   Ends:    5.00" / 127 mm    129.50 ft / 39.47 m    9.50 ft / 2.90 m

   Upper:    5.00" / 127 mm    175.00 ft / 53.34 m    7.50 ft / 2.29 m

     Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length

  - Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:

       1.00" / 25 mm    220.50 ft / 67.21 m    25.00 ft / 7.62 m

   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 63.00 ft / 19.20 m

  - Gun armour:    Face (max)    Other gunhouse (avg)    Barbette/hoist (max)

   Main:    13.0" / 330 mm    6.00" / 152 mm        13.0" / 330 mm

   2nd:    5.00" / 127 mm    1.00" / 25 mm        1.00" / 25 mm

   3rd:    1.00" / 25 mm          -                  -

  - Protected deck - multiple decks:

   For and Aft decks: 2.04" / 52 mm

   Forecastle: 1.04" / 26 mm  Quarter deck: 1.04" / 26 mm

  - Conning towers: Forward 13.00" / 330 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:

   Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,

   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 10,398 ihp / 7,757 Kw = 17.00 kts

   Range 4,356nm at 10.00 kts

   Bunker at max displacement = 1,608 tons (100% coal)

Complement:

   526 - 684

Cost:

   £0.895 million / $3.581 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

   Armament: 713 tons, 6.7 %

      - Guns: 711 tons, 6.6 %

      - Weapons: 2 tons, 0.0 %

   Armour: 3,559 tons, 33.2 %

      - Belts: 1,799 tons, 16.8 %

      - Torpedo bulkhead: 204 tons, 1.9 %

      - Armament: 807 tons, 7.5 %

      - Armour Deck: 613 tons, 5.7 %

      - Conning Tower: 136 tons, 1.3 %

   Machinery: 2,044 tons, 19.1 %

   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,039 tons, 28.4 %

   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,356 tons, 12.7 %

   Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):

     9,765 lbs / 4,429 Kg = 9.8 x 13.0 " / 330 mm shells or 14.1 torpedoes

   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.42

   Metacentric height 5.4 ft / 1.6 m

   Roll period: 12.7 seconds

   Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %

           - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.28

   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:

   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,

     a normal bow and a cruiser stern

   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.600 / 0.607

   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.00 : 1

   'Natural speed' for length: 18.71 kts

   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %

   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50

   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees

   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m

   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):

               Fore end,     Aft end

      - Forecastle:    19.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m

      - Forward deck:    20.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m

      - Aft deck:    43.00 %,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m

      - Quarter deck:    18.00 %,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m

      - Average freeboard:        10.43 ft / 3.18 m

   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:

   Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 96.9 %

       - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 64.1 %

   Waterplane Area: 17,919 Square feet or 1,665 Square metres

   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %

   Structure weight / hull surface area: 147 lbs/sq ft or 718 Kg/sq metre

   Hull strength (Relative):

       - Cross-sectional: 0.92

       - Longitudinal: 2.07

       - Overall: 1.00

   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space

   Cramped accommodation and workspace room

Armament:

33cm/30 model 1880

15cm/35 model 1880

9cm/40 model 1880

4cm/40 model 1880

45cm/3 model 1880

Armor:

Main belt extends 2' below waterline

1" protected deck & slopes plus 0.5" battery and upper decks