How plausible is the Leander-class destroyer-sloop from Sojourn?
Short answerThe corrected armament of eight 10-inch guns is judged difficult to fit within 143 metres once barrel dimensions and ammunition are considered; a substantially larger ship is suggested.
NotesThe fictional Leander-class destroyer-sloop is introduced with a hull about 143 metres long, a beam of 36.2 metres and a height of 24.1 metres. Its armament is corrected during the conversation from four to eight 10-inch guns, alongside smaller guns and torpedo pods. A 10-inch, 60-calibre barrel alone is 50 feet long, before allowing for the mounting or ammunition supply. An estimate of about 250 metres is suggested to make this weapon list more plausible. That figure is an informal comparison with naval artillery dimensions, not a calculated minimum for the fictional technology. The distinction between age-of-sail ratings and modern cruiser labels also affects what the word destroyer-sloop is supposed to convey.