German battleship building program according to the Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 16 December 1938

German battleship Bismarck, Maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany

Gneisenau. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

H-class battleships. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item dated Kiel, Germany 15th reported that Germany intended to built a 35.000 tons battleship which would be the first battleship in the German navy. The edition dated 24 December reported the building of three battleships armed with 38.1cm/15” guns, an it was believed that a fourth battleship was projected. The newspaper Haagsche courant dated 15 December referring to Weyers Flottentaschenbuch mentioned 2-35,000 tons battleships under construction with a third one designed, a 26,000 tons battleship Gneisenau already commissioned and the Scharnhorst nearing completition.(1)

Note

1. The 35,000 ton battleships were the Bismarck and Tirpitz preceded by Scharnhorst-class succeeded by planned H-class armed with 4/2-38cm/15” C/34 guns with a standard displacement of 41,700 respectively 42,900 tons and full load 50,300 respectively 52,600 tons. Les Flottes de combat 1940-1942 mentioned the construction under the 1937-1938 program of the Hindenburg laid down by Blohm&Voss in June 1939, to be launched in 1941 and the Frederich der Gross, laid down at Wilhelmshafen in May 1939 and to be launched in 1941, part of H-class, both with a displacement of 40,000 tons and an armament of 2x4-40.6cm guns and 24-10,5cm anti aicraft guns. Brassey’s Naval Annual 1940 mentioned the H en I of 40,000 tons.