The Krait Class were virtually ships three and four of the previous Python class. All of the internals were identical. It was the main armament that held the classes apart. Where the Pythons had the five triple 7.6" turrets, the Kraits had four twin turrets of a new model 12" weapon. This 12" was a 50 calibre weapon that fired an 1150 pound shell. The turret had 30 degree elevation that allowed the guns a maximum range of 33,000 yards. The guns could fire up to three rounds per minute, but two rounds per minute was normal. With the armour piercing shell the weapons could pierce up to 11 inches of armour. The other major difference was in the armoured belt, this increased from the Pythons 6" belt to a 9" belt for the Kraits. Deck armour remained at 3". Turret armour increased proportionately. This came at a cost, the Pythons made 32 knots, the Kraits 30 knots. Utilising the same hull and equipment speeded up the construction process markedly. A third Krait class ship was to be built using spare weapons from the Liu Song class. This was cancelled and the hull converted into an aircraft carrier.
The Krait class also introduced a new twin 5.1" turret with 45 degree elevation that was nominally useful against aircraft but was mainly designed as a surface weapon. They would be used throughout the 1920's and into the 1930's when they would be replaced with a new dual purpose 5.1" turret. The same dual purpose turrets would replace the single and twin 5.1" on the Krait class in a 1937 rebuild.
These two ships almost always had an Admiral of some kind in the Flag quarters. Their use as Squadron Flagships for the cruisers and aircraft carriers groups made them popular to serve on. Flagships always get the best anchorage points when in port.
I have cheated a bit in producing the four drawings for the Python and Krait classes, but I have always had it in mind to have these ships armed as they are. My original thought was a one ship Krait class reusing the old 12" twins from the Liu Song class. I enjoyed building the new 12" guns and turrets and then having to fit them into the same space the five triple 7.6" occupied. That required a little bit of fiddling with placement points. I do like the drawings, the big cruiser designs are a favourite of mine to dream up and produce.
