German pre-design for the Deutschland-class pocket battleships design II/10 dated 1923

Design II/10. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

 

German Admiral Graf Spee original appearance. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

German Admiral Graf Spee disguised appearance. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Design D-class heavy cruiser. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Hipper-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Deutschland-class consisted of the Deutschland (Panzerschiff A, replacement of the Preussen) renamed Lützow in January 1940), Admiral Graf Scheer Panzerschiff B replacement of the Lotharingen) and Admiral Graf Spee (Panzerschiff C, replacement of the Braunschweig, lost in 1939). Succeeded by Admiral Hiper-class and planned D-class cruiser. Original called Panzerschiffe (armored ships), reclassifed as heavy cruisers in February 1940. The press called her pocket battleships while she were more competent then the pre-dreadnought battleships, able to outrun every ship more heavier armed or to out gun every existing (heavy) cruiser due to her armament of 2x3-28cm/11” guns. Plans to convert the two existing units in 1943 into aircraft carriers was not executed. Displacement 10,000 tons and as dimensions 124,0 x 21,4 x 6,8 metres. Turbine propulsion with coal and oil fuelled boiler, 2 shafts and 2x25,000 hp allwoing a speed of 22 knots. Belt, conning tower and gun hoods maximum 20cm and 3cm deck. Armament 2x2-38cm quick firing guns, 4-15cm guns, 2x1-8,8cm anti aircraft guns and 2 submerged 50cm torpedo tubes.

Sources

Gerhard Koop and Klaus-Peter Schmolke. Die Panzerschiffe der Deutschland-klasse.

Mike J. Whitley. Deutsche Kreuzer im Zweiten Weltkrieg.

Gert Sandhofer. Das Panzerschiff “A” und die vorentwürfe von 1920 bis 1928.

Jane’s Fighting Ships several editions.

Flottes de combat several editions.

Bundesarchiv several files. German pre design for the Deutschland-class pocket battleships design