Design Greek battleship Salamis

1 design

1.1 general characteristics
1.2 armament
1.3 armor

design

the initial design called ship 458 ft (140 m) long beam of 72 ft (22 m), draft of 24 ft (7.3 m), , displacement of 13,500 t (13,300 long tons; 14,900 short tons). ship designed 2-shaft turbines rated @ 26,000 shp top speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph). armament 6 14-inch (356 mm) guns in twin turrets on centerline 1 amidships, 8 6 in (152 mm), 8 3 in (76 mm), , 4 37 mm (1.5 in) guns, , 2 45 cm (18 in) torpedo tubes. design revised several times, though reasons can vary depending on source. tufnell accused germans of offering cheap unseaworthy design, obtaining contract, advocating alter contract more expensive more practical design. however, due increased tensions resulted in outbreak of first balkan war in october 1912. likelihood of war increased on preceding summer, greek navy began serious efforts increase strength; in august, rumors began circulate greek navy desired significant redesign of ship, though sought minor alterations. naval operations during war convinced naval command of advantages larger ship provide.

hovering on of these possibility the-then 5 dreadnoughts of south american dreadnought race put sale. two, brazil, completed, , third under construction in britain. two, argentina, being built in united states. naval historian paul g. halpern wrote of situation sudden acquisition single power of or of these ships might have been enough tip delicate balance of power such prevailed in mediterranean. both greeks , ottomans reportedly interested in argentine ships, , venizelos attempted buy 1 of rivadavia-class battleships being built in united states argentine navy alternative redesigning salamis, in process delaying completion.

when argentine government refused sell ship, agreed redesigning salamis, , committee included greek , british naval officers created revise design. committee favored 16,500 t (16,200 long tons; 18,200 short tons) design, 1 of british officers proposed increase 19,500 t (19,200 long tons; 21,500 short tons), since increase allow substantially more powerful vessel. venizelos approved increase in displacement 16,500 mt, opposed further increases. foreign secretary, lambros koromilas, , president of parliament, nikolaos stratos, conspired have larger proposal adopted while venizelos attending peace conference resulted in treaty of london. koromilas , stratos misrepresented venizelos position rest of cabinet , secured approval new contract.

koromilas , stratos deception proved effective, , enlarged proposal adopted on 23 december 1912, , finalized details specified below; significant changes 50% increase in displacement, addition of fourth twin-gun turret, , arrangement of main battery in superfiring pairs. ship delivered greek navy march 1915, @ cost of £1,693,000. m. k. barnett, writing scientific american, remarked ship not mark particular advance in warship design, being, rather, effort combine greatest defensive , offensive qualities least cost. journal of american society of naval engineers, however, believed ship designed speed , firepower @ expensive of heavy defensive armor. upon return, venizelos attempted have new contract cancelled, vulcan refused, noting prime ministers rise , fall power , influence of venizelos not enduring.

the modifications design came on objections of british, including prince louis of battenberg , new head of british naval mission in greece, rear admiral mark kerr. battenberg wrote greek purchase of modern capital ships undesirable every point of view , country s finances not support them , increasing power of torpedoes making smaller ships more dangerous. along same lines, kerr suggested venizelos fleet built around smaller warships better suited constricted aegean sea. however, these views opposed greek navy , king constantine of greece, both of whom desired regular battle fleet, believed way of assuring greek naval superiority on ottomans.

general characteristics

salamis 569 feet 11 inches (173.71 m) long @ waterline full flush deck, , had beam of 81 ft (25 m) , draft of 25 ft (7.6 m). ship designed displace 19,500 t (19,200 long tons; 21,500 short tons). have been fitted 2 tripod masts. had battleship been completed, have been powered 3 aeg steam turbines, each of drove propeller shaft. turbines supplied steam eighteen coal-fired yarrow boilers. boilers have been ducted 2 widely-spaced funnels. have provided salamis 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kw) , top speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). speed faster contemporary battleships, had top speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph), contributed classification battlecruiser. large crane installed between funnels handle ship s boats.

armament

hms abercrombie, mounting 1 of 14-inch turrets intended salamis

the primary armament of ship 8 14 in (356 mm) /45 caliber guns mounted in 4 twin-gun turrets, of built bethlehem steel. 2 turrets mounted in superfiring arrangement forward of main superstructure, other 2 mounted aft of funnels. these guns capable of firing 1,400 lb (640 kg) armor-piercing or high-explosive shells. shells fired @ muzzle velocity of 2,570 feet per second (780 m/s). guns proved highly resistant wear in british service, though suffered significant barrel droop after around 250 shells had been fired through them, contributed poor accuracy after extended use. turrets housed guns allowed depression −5° , elevation 15°, , electrically operated.

there disagreement on nature of ship s intended secondary battery. according gardiner , gray, battery consist of twelve 6 in (152 mm) /50 caliber guns, manufactured bethlehem, mounted in casemates amidships, 6 on either side. these guns fired 105-pound (48 kg) projectiles @ muzzle velocity of 2,800 f/s (853 m/s). according norman friedman, these twelve guns sold britain after war broke out, used fortify grand fleet s main base @ scapa flow. antony preston disagrees, stating guns have been 5.5 in (140 mm) guns ordered coventry ordnance works. salamis s armament rounded out twelve 75 mm (3.0 in) quick-firing guns, mounted in casemates, , 5 50 cm (20 in) submerged torpedo tubes.

armor

salamis had armored belt 9.875 in (250.8 mm) thick in central section of ship, protected critical areas, such ammunition magazines , machinery spaces. on either end of ship, past main battery gun turrets, belt decreased 3.875 in (98.4 mm) thick; height of belt decreased in these areas. main armored deck 2.875 in (73.0 mm) in central portion of ship, , belt armor, in less important areas thickness decreased 1.5 in (38 mm). main battery gun turrets protected 9.875 in-thick armor plate on sides , face, , barbettes in placed protected same thickness of armor. conning tower lightly armored, 1.25 in (32 mm) worth of protection.