German pre design for the Deutschland-class pocket battleships design VIII/30 dated 27 May 1925

Design VIII/30. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Graf Spee. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

D-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Hipper-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Dimensions 141 x 20.2 x 7.0 metres. Diesel propulsion, 3 shafts, 36.000 hp allowing a speed of 24 knots. Main belt 18cm and turrets 20cm armour. Armament 4-30.5cm quick firing guns, 6-15cm quick firing guns, 6-8.8cm anti aircraft guns and 2-53cm submerged torpedo tubes.

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.