Battle cruiser Scharnhorst
An item dated Rome, Italy 30th April referred to the Gionale d’Italia which newspaper reported that the German naval shipbuilding program 1935-1935 was tripled when compared with that for 1934-1935. With a total tonnage of 100.000 ton were the limits as a result of the Treaty of Versailles and all British predictions completely trespassed. Later added the newspaper more details. The program included the building of 2-.20.000ton battleships, armed with 9-11“ guns and a cruise speed of 32 knots (1), 2-8.000/9.000 ton cruisers, 16-1.400 ton destroyers and 10-800 ton flotilla leaders. The two cruisers were to be armed with 9-7.5” guns (2), to be laid down in respectively May and June 1935 and to be completed against the end of 1937. The keels or four destroyers were already laid down at Kiel in 1934. There was now the building of another 5 ordered. The number of 400/500 ton submarines to be built was more as the believed 12. The secretly manufactured diesel engines for the 12-250 ton submarines were already available. The program was to be completed in 1938.
Note
1. In fact heavy cruisers with a displacement of 20.000 tons and as dimensions 230 x 25,5 x 8,5 metres or 750 x 84 x 28 feet, a speed of 29 knots and an armament of 2x3-28cm/11” /52 quick firing guns, 8-15cm/5.9” L/55 quick firing guns and 8-10,5cm/4.1” L/65 anti aircraft quick firing guns. This D-class were an improved Deutschland-class cruisers (also known as pocket battleships). Of one was the keel laid down but the building was cancelled within 5 months. In stead were the battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau built.
