An item referred to the N.M.R. dated 16 May 1935 reported that J.B. Gautreau wrote that the newest and fastest German passenger ships used for the Far East shipping line were designed to be used in wartime as auxiliary cruisers. Ttese were the 18.000 tons/22 knots Scharnhorst (1) and Gneisenau (2) and 16.500/21 knots Potsdam (3) of the Norddeutscher Lloyd. The interest of Germany in what was going on in the Far East was legal but so warned Gautreau the European powers that their Asiatic possessions had such a scale than could be defended.
Notes
1. Launched with yard number 891 by Deschimag Werk AG Wser, Bremen, Germany on 18 December 1934 and sunk as the Japanese escort carrier Shin’yo by the American submarine USS Spadefish in the Yellow Sea on 17 November 1944. She was in 1942 acquired by Japan and converted. Measured 18.184 gross register tons when built.
2. Launched by Deschimag Werk AG Weser, Bremen, Germany on 17 May 1935 and sunk after hitting a mine on 2 May 1943. Was in 1942 to be converted into an aircraft carrier (Project Jade) but considered to be slow with her 21 knots.
3. Launched with yard number 497 at Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany in 16 January 1935 and finally broken up in 1935. Gross register tonnage 17.528 tons, net register tonnage 10.109 tons and deadweight 12.000 tons. Was in 1942 to be converted into an aircraft carrier (Project Sade) but considered to be slow with her 21 knots and just suitable as training carrier, plans were cancelled in January 1943.
Notes
1. Launched with yard number 891 by Deschimag Werk AG Wser, Bremen, Germany on 18 December 1934 and sunk as the Japanese escort carrier Shin’yo by the American submarine USS Spadefish in the Yellow Sea on 17 November 1944. She was in 1942 acquired by Japan and converted. Measured 18.184 gross register tons when built.
2. Launched by Deschimag Werk AG Weser, Bremen, Germany on 17 May 1935 and sunk after hitting a mine on 2 May 1943. Was in 1942 to be converted into an aircraft carrier (Project Jade) but considered to be slow with her 21 knots.
3. Launched with yard number 497 at Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany in 16 January 1935 and finally broken up in 1935. Gross register tonnage 17.528 tons, net register tonnage 10.109 tons and deadweight 12.000 tons. Was in 1942 to be converted into an aircraft carrier (Project Sade) but considered to be slow with her 21 knots and just suitable as training carrier, plans were cancelled in January 1943.
