Of the Leipzig-class consisting of the Leipzig and Nürnberg, preceded by the Königsberg-class and succeeded by the planned but never realized M-class cruiser. Building ordered in 1933, laid down at Deutsche Werke shipyard, Kiel, Germany with yard number 234 in 1934, launched on 6 December 1934, commissioned on 2 November 1935, surrendered at Copenhagen, Denmark to the British cruisers HMS Devonshire and Dido on 22 May 1945, handed over to Russia as war compensation on 19 December 1945, taken from Wilhelmshaven, Germany to Libau, Latvia on 2 January 196, training ship with as homeport Kronstadt since 1954, stricken on 15 February 1961 and afterwards broken up.
Armament in German service 3x2-15cm/5.9” C/25 quick firing guns (1 fore, 2 aft), 4x2-8,8cm/3.5” C/32 quick firing guns, 4x2-3,7cm/1.5” C/30 quick firing guns, 8-2cm/0.8” C/30 guns, 4x3-53,3cm/21.0” surfaced torpedo tubes and 20 mines. Carried 2 Arado 196 floatplanes with her. In 1942 were the torpedo tubes and the catapult and crane for handling the aircraft removed.
Displacement 7.150 (standard)-8.060 (construction) 9.040 tons (full combat load) and as dimensions 170,0 (waterline)-181,3 (over all) x 16,3 x 5,74 metres or 595 x 53 x 18.8 feet. The armour consisted of a 5cm/2.0” thick belt, a 3cm/1.2” thick deck with the conning tower protected by 10cm/3.9” (sides). Crew numbered 673 men (included 25 officers). Machinery consisted of 2 steam turbines supplying 60.000 shp/45MW with 6 Marine-type double-ended oil fuelled boilers and 4 MAN two-stroke double-acting diesels supplying 12.400ihp/9.3MW allowing a speed of 32,3 knots. With a speed of 10 knots was her range 3.900 nautical miles while using the diesels.
