An item referred to the magazine U.S.R. dated 22 December 1938 reporting that the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal had just an anti aircraft armament of 16-11,4cm/4,5” guns to which 32-4cm/1.57’/20d pom pom and 8x4-12,7mm/0.50” machineguns were added but none guns for acting against surface units. Her German opponent the Graf Zeppelin was another story. Except for the 10-10,5cm anti aircraft guns and 22 smaller anti aircraft guns was she to be armed with 16-115cm guns, heavily armoured and a maximum speed of 32 knots, one knot faster as the Ark Royal. The author of the note stated that it was clearly that the Graf Zeppelin was fitted out for independent ocean operations and would be a to be feared opponent as a commerce raider.
Note
1. Laid down at the Deutsche Werke, Kiel, Germany on 28 December 1936, launched on 8 December 1938, fell into Russian hands and destroyed on 14 August 1947 used for tests with shells and bombs, although torpedoes were needed to sunk her. Wreck found back on 12 July 2006. Displacement was 34.088 tons/33.550 long tons, speed 33,8 knots and according to a proposal dated 1939 was she to carry 42 aircraft. Belonged to the Graf Zeppelin which was number 2 ships namely the Graf Zeppelin and the ‘B‘ never launched and broken up sill on the slipways. The armament consisted of 16-15cm/6” C/28 quick firing guns, 12-10,5cm C/33 quick firing anti aircraft guns, 22-3,7cm/1.5” C/30 quick firing anti aircraft guns and 28-2cm FlaK anti aircraft guns.
Note
1. Laid down at the Deutsche Werke, Kiel, Germany on 28 December 1936, launched on 8 December 1938, fell into Russian hands and destroyed on 14 August 1947 used for tests with shells and bombs, although torpedoes were needed to sunk her. Wreck found back on 12 July 2006. Displacement was 34.088 tons/33.550 long tons, speed 33,8 knots and according to a proposal dated 1939 was she to carry 42 aircraft. Belonged to the Graf Zeppelin which was number 2 ships namely the Graf Zeppelin and the ‘B‘ never launched and broken up sill on the slipways. The armament consisted of 16-15cm/6” C/28 quick firing guns, 12-10,5cm C/33 quick firing anti aircraft guns, 22-3,7cm/1.5” C/30 quick firing anti aircraft guns and 28-2cm FlaK anti aircraft guns.
