Admiral Graf Spee of the German Deutschland-class
The French Dunkerque
An item dated New York, USA 17th reported that the new German cruiser Ersatz Preussen (1) probably demanded a necessary revision of the Washington Treaty [of 1922] dealing with the naval shipbuilding topic. An official US Navy bulletin (2) stated that the fighting value of such pocket battleship was considerable more as that of the 10.000 tons Washington-cruisers.(3) With a fuel bunker capacity large enough for voyage of 10.000 miles with a speed of 20 knots without needing fuel bunker stops was her range far beyond that of any other ship. She was faster that any existing battleship and just a battle cruiser would be fast enough.(4) An ordinary cruiser was not a real opponent for her while her main armament consisted of 6-28cm guns.
Notes
1. The Deutschland of the Deutschland-class Panzerschiffe (armoured ships) later classified as heavy cruisers, outside Germany known as pocket battleships. Laid down by Deutsche Werke, Kiel, Germany with yard number 219 on 5 February 1929, launched on 19 May 1931, commissioned on 1 April 1933, renamed Lützow in January 1940 and sunk as a target during Soviet weapon tests off Swinoijscie, Poland on 22 July 1947. Displacement 12.630 (design)-14.520 (full load) tons, maximum speed 28 knots and an armament of 2x3-28cm/11” guns (1 fore, 1 aft), 8x1-15cm/5.9” and 8-53,3cm/21.0“ torpedo tubes.
2. The Proceedings Magazine dated July 1929 included an article dealing with her with as author U.S. Nay captain H.C. Dinger.
3. Displacement 10.000 tons and a main armament consisting of 20,32 cm/8” guns.
4. France built the fast battleships Dunkerque and Strasbourg 1932-1938 as answer. Design standard displacement 26.500 tons, a main armament of 2x4-33cm/13’ guns and speed of 30,9-31,06 knots.
