Ersatz Monarch Project I

While the Ersatz Monarch class battleships is mostly likely the most well-known never-were project of the Austro-Hungarian Navy (Kaiserlich und Königlich Kriegsmarine) the history of the class and the other design variants considered are rather difficult to get hold knowledge of, not only because the troubled history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and it's successor states (Ships designed by Vienna and the various shipyards of Croatia and parts of nowadays Italy, Armour produced by Vitkovice in Silesia and Main guns produced and developed by Skoda in Bohemia (today Czech Republic) while engines and smaller calibre guns produced by Ganz-Danubius, Budapest, Hungary) in the past 100 years, but the documents of the ships might ended up in various parts of the old Monarch due to their contribution of the development and construction of the ships. Meaning while most of the documents were held in Vienna (Austria), some documents could be found in Budapest (Hungary), Pola and Zagreb (Croatia), Venezia (Italy) or might be even in Prague (Czech Republic). None the less due to some Hungarian and Italian Naval enthusiasts as well as sheer luck I was able to collect as much info as I could,
In case of the name formally this new class of battleships were never called Ersatz Monarch class, but rather as Projects like I II III etc, Enlarged or Improved Tegetthoff type or by their tonnage like 23.400ton battleships, 24.500ton battleships and so on. The name Ersatz Monarch (Replacement Monarch) originated from the leading article of August 1913 number of “Die Flagge”, the monthly magazine of Austrian Navy League: “The Monarch class must be replaced.” and hence the name Ersatz Monarch survived to this very day describing the last ordered battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

In early June 1911, some 3 weeks before the launch of SMS Viribus Unitis (First dreadnought battleship of Austro-Hungary) planning works begun for a new design of battleship. The Empire required new battleships for several reasons:

- Balance the eternal rival of the Adriatic Region: Italy’s construction of new battleships (Andrea Doria and Conte di Cavour classes)
- With the addition of modern capital ships, the fleet of Austria-Hungary became a major navy instead of a mere coastal defence force
- to maintain the status of great power was impossible without dreadnought-type battleships

The new battleships must be stronger than the previous Viribus Unitis class and for better seakeeping abilities must have a risen forecastle deck and increased speed of 21knots (39km/h)
With other requirements as follows:
Variant A: 23.000tons, with a minimum of 10x 30,5 cm cannons, 18x 15cm and 24x 7,5 cm secondary and tertiary guns
Variant B: 24.600tons, with a minimum of 10x 34,5 cm cannons, other armament same as above

The displacement was limited by the lifting capacity of Drydock No.1 of 23.800tons.

In April earlier of that year, Skoda offered plans of a new heavy gun a 34,5cm one in twin and triple turrets as well as ideas for a new battleship arguing with the necessity of securing high skilled workforce and ensuring development continuity.

The Naval Technical Committee (MTK - Marinetechnische Komitee) offered the first designs in December of that year:
Project I: 22.000tons, 4x3, 30,5cm, 16x1 15cm, 18x1 7,5cm
Project II: 23.400tons, 2x3,2x2 34,5cm, 6x2,10x1 15cm, 24x1 7,5cm
Project III: 24.500tons, 2x3,2x2 34,5cm, 6x2,10x1 15cm, 24x1 7,5cm
Project IV: 23.400tons, 2x3,2x2 34,5cm, 6x2,10x1 15cm, 24x1 7,5cm
All had 6x 53cm Underwater Torpedo tubes

Data on the Design:
Dimensions: 161 (wl), 162,2 (oa) x 27,6 x 8,4m
Displacement: 22.000tons (standard)
Engines: 28.000shp Steam Turbines, 4 shafts
Speed: 39km/h (21knots)
Armour: 300mm Belt, 63mm Deck
Armaments:
4x3 30,5cm/45 Skoda K10 Cannons,
6x2,10x1 15cm/50 Skoda K10 Casemated Guns,
24x1 7,5cm Skoda K13 Guns
6x1 53cm Underwater Torpedo tubes