German pre-design for the Deutschland-class pocket battleships I/M 26 dated June 1927

Design I/M 26 type C. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Graf Spee. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Hipper-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Dimensions 188 x 20.7 x 5.5 metres. Diesel propulsion delivering 34,000 hp allowing a speed of 28 knots. Main belt and turrets 10cm armor. Armament 2x3-28cm/11” guns and 8-12cm anti aircraft guns.

Deutschland-class consisted of the Deutschland (Panzerschiff A, replacement of the Preussen) renamed Lützow in January 1940), Admiral Graf Scheer Panzerschiff B replacement of the Lotharingen) and Admiral Graf Spee (Panzerschiff C, replacement of the Braunschweig, lost in 1939). Original called Panzerschiffe (armored ships), reclassifed as heavy cruisers in February 1940. The press called her pocket battleships while she were more competent then the pre-dreadnought battleships, able to outrun every ship more heavier armed or to outgun every existing (heavy) cruiser due to her armamrnt of 2x3-28cm/11” guns. Plans to convert the two existing units in 1943 into aircraft carriers was not executed.

Sources

Gerhard Koop and Klaus-Peter Schmolke. Die Panzerschiffe der Deutschland-klasse.

Mike J. Whitley. Deutsche Kreuzer im Zweiten Weltkrieg.

Gert Sandhofer. Das Panzerschiff “A” und die vorentwürfe von 1920 bis 1928.

Jane’s Fighting Ships several editions.

Flottes de combat several editions.

Bundesarchiv several files.