German Admiral Graf Spee
British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter
British Leander-class light cruisers
French battleship Dunkerque
Of the Deutschland-class consisting of the Admiral Graf Spee, Deutschland (1940 renamed Admiral Lützow) and the Admiral Scheer. In the international press called pocket battleship with the idea outrunning each ship which was too powerful for her but able to destroy any other ship. Very suitable to serve as commercial raider.
Building ordered as the Ersatz Braunschweig). Laid down on the Reichmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, Germany with yard number 125 on 1 October 1932, launched on 30 June 1934, commissioned on 6 January 1936, successful in destroying 50.089 gross tonnage of merchant ships, participated in the Battle of the Rio de La Plata on 13 December 1939 (1) and finally scuttled to prevent capture on 17 December1939. Her captain was mislead believing that a large Allied naval force was approaching which was not true. Despite being damaged in the battle was she still superior to the Allied ships waiting outside Montevideo, Uruguay who were far more damaged. She was however lacking enough ammunition and had severe problems while the oil purification and desalination plants and galley were destroyed. Two of the Allied ships searching for her were the French fast battleships also called battle cruisers Strassbourg and Dunkerque. (2)
Displacement 14.890 (design)-16.280 (full load) tons and as dimensions 186 x 21,65 x 7,34 metres or 610’3”x 71.0’x 24’1”. The machinery consisted of 4 sets MAN 9-cylinder double-acting two stroke diesel engines allowing with a horsepower of 54.000 ship a maximum speed of 28,5 knots. With a speed of 18,69 knots was her range 16.300 nautical miles. Crew numbered 619 men included 33 (officers) design)-1.070 included officers (after 1935). The armour consisted of a 8cm/3.1” thick belt. a 1,7/0.67“-4,5cm/1.77” thick main deck and with the main gun turrets protected by 8cm/3.14” (sides)-14cm/”5.5” (faces) thick armour. The armament consisted of 3x2-28cm/11” guns, 8x1-15cm/5.9” guns and 2x4-53,3cm/21.’) torpedo tubes. Fitted out wit a catapult for the 2 Arado Ar 196 floatplanes she could carry with her.
Notes
1. Her heaviest opponent in the Battle was the British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter with a main armament of just 3x2-20,3cm/8” guns! The other HMNSZ Achilles (4x2-15,2cm/16” guns) and HMS Ajax (4x2-15,2cm/16” guns) were Leander-class light cruisers
2. The Dunkerque-class was especially built by France to counter the Deutschland-class! Speed 30,90-31,06 knots meaning faster as the Admiral Graf Spee and with a main armament of 2x4-33cm/13” guns.
