Hi,
first of all nice to see all kind of background stories.
Sigoroth covered the cruiser parts pretty good I'd say so I am nothing going to dilute the thread at this point with my ramblings.
One note of principle: Does Chaos really need two carrier variants included?
I'd say no.
On the Despoiler variants: Sigoroth is correct, you are working from a bad design and thus creating designs that don't work to start with.
Okay, again, Despoiler as should:
Prow = a very large hangar: thus should have highest launch bay capacity.
We have 1 launch bay piece on each side = 1 launch bay piece is strength 2 capacity.
With that in mind and we want a str.8 launch bay ship the prow should be strenght 4 capacity.
Easy, huh?
Now, the ship has on its sides two weapon battery slots.
With the Murder that means: str10 @ 45cm. Same to the Carnage which pushes some (4) to 60cm as well.
So that means the Despoiler should have strength 10 batteries per side. With a step up from cruiser to battleship they should be all at 60cm.
Then the ship has dorsal lances, str3 @60cm is sufficient enough for a battleship.
Having the prow launch bays means we drop the (daft) prow lances.
The torpedo option (str8) can be taken at expense of the str4 prow launch bay.
Thus we end with:
hits 12
turns 45*
speed 20cm
armour 5+
shields 4
turrets 4
port weapons battery strength 10 @ 60cm
starboard weapons battery strength 10 @ 60cm
port launch bays strength 2 (fighters/bombers/assault boats)
starboard launch bays strength 2 (fighters/bombers/assault boats)
prow launch bays strength 4 (fighters/bombers/assault boats)
dorsal lances strength 3 @ 60cm LFR
optional: 8 torps for 4 prow launch bays
That is the base.