The early illustrations differ, so the apparent gun and launcher positions remain provisional. The specifications give 840 to 880 feet in length, 105 to 115 feet in beam, and a draft of 24 to 30 feet. A rough comparison puts the design slightly shorter and broader than an Iowa, with displacement above 35,000 tons and speed above 30 knots. The hull is interpreted here as unarmored. The stated complement is 650 to 850 people, with the possible inclusion of an embarked command staff offered as a guess about the range.
Chapter · 16:21-18:54
Preliminary Defiant dimensions, speed, and crew
The early specifications describe a very large surface combatant, while its apparent layout and the reason for the crew range remain uncertain.