Ersatz Monarch Project VIII

To counter the influence of Skoda, the Naval Ministry ordered a new set of designs in early spring of 1912 with armaments minimum of 8x either 34,5cm or 35,5cm cannons (Skoda was ordered to develop guns and turrets for this new calibre as well) with new tonnage set to 23.400tons. Though Skoda could not provide drawings and data of the 35,5cm guns and turrets in time so most of the Shipyards used 34,5cm guns for their proposals.

With this new specifications in mind no less than 26 design proposals were made by the various shipyards ranging from 8 guns to 13 guns from 161 to 175m in length, displacements of 23.400 to 27.000tons and armour ranging from 280mm to 340mm belt and 38-64mm deck. Sadly most of these designs precise data as well as their drawings I could not acquire (if still exists) and hence I only draw the MTK variants for which I have more accurate data of.

In case of the 8 gunned 23.000ton designs I’m not sure the accuracy of either the tonnage or the amount of guns carried because on 23-24.000tons the Royal Navy able to produce ships: Orion and King George V class, HMS Erin with 5x2 343mm (13,5”) armament on a same hull size and belt armour but thicker deck armour and faster speed of 22knots.

Here is the list of designers who offered their ideas to the Naval Ministry apart from MTK:
CNT - Cantiere Navale Triestino (Trieste Naval Shipyard)
STT - Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino (Technical Establishment of Trieste) mostly by Naval Architect Siegfried Popper
Ganz-Danubius - Ganz és Társa-Danubius Villamossági-, Gép-, Waggon- és Hajógyár Rt. (Ganz and Partner-Danubius Electrical- Machine-, Wagon- and Shipbuilding Co.)
Naval Architect Silvius Morin

None the less by May 1912 MTK proposed these new set of designs all of which of 25.200tons displacement:
Project VI: 1x3,4x2 34,5cm, 16x1 15cm, 18x1 7,5cm
Project VII: 4x3 34,5cm, 16x1 15cm, 18x1 7,5cm
Project VIII: 3x3,2x2 34,5cm, 16x1 15cm, 18x1 7,5cm
Project IX: 2x3,3x2 34,5cm, 14x1 15cm, 18x1 7,5cm
All had 6x Underwater 53cm Torpedo Tubes

Data on the Design:
Dimensions: 175 (wl), 176,2 (oa) x 28,5 x 8,6m
Displacement: 25.200tons (standard)
Engines: 30.000shp Steam Turbines, 4 shafts
Speed: 39km/h (21knots)
Armour: 340mm Belt, 76mm Deck
Armaments:
3x3,2x2 34,5cm/45 Skoda K13 Cannons,
16x1 15cm Skoda K10 Casemated Guns,
18x1 7,5cm Skoda K13 Guns
6x1 53cm Underwater Torpedo tubes