Design Deutschland-class cruiser

1 design

1.1 general characteristics
1.2 machinery
1.3 armament
1.4 armor

design
general characteristics

recognition drawing of lützow appeared in 1942. indicates armoured belt 4 inches thick, instead of actual 3.1 inches.

the 3 deutschland-class ships varied in dimensions. 3 ships 181.70 meters (596.1 ft) long @ waterline, , built, 186 m (610 ft 3 in) long overall. deutschland , admiral scheer had clipper bows installed in 1940–1941; overall length increased 187.90 m (616 ft 6 in). deutschland had beam of 20.69 m (67 ft 11 in), admiral scheer s beam 21.34 m (70 ft 0 in), while admiral graf spee s 21.65 m (71 ft 0 in). deutschland , admiral scheer had standard draft of 5.78 m (19 ft 0 in) , full-load draft of 7.25 m (23 ft 9 in). admiral graf spee s draft 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in) , 7.34 m (24 ft 1 in), respectively. displacement of 3 ships increased on class. standard displacement grew 10,600 long tons (10,800 t) deutschland 11,550 long tons (11,740 t) admiral scheer , 12,340 long tons (12,540 t) admiral graf spee. ships full load displacements higher, @ 14,290 long tons (14,520 t) deutschland, 13,660 long tons (13,880 t) admiral scheer, , 16,020 long tons (16,280 t) admiral graf spee. ships officially stated within 10,000 long tons (10,000 t) limit of treaty of versailles, however.

the ships hulls constructed transverse steel frames; on 90 percent of hulls used welding instead of standard riveting, saved 15 percent of total hull weight. savings allowed armament , armor increased. hulls contained twelve watertight compartments , fitted double bottom extended 92 percent of length of keel. designed, ship s complement comprised 33 officers , 586 enlisted men. after 1935, crew dramatically increased, 30 officers , 921–1,040 sailors. while serving squadron flagship, additional 17 officers , 85 enlisted men augmented crew. second flagship had additional 13 officers , 59 sailors. ships carried number of smaller boats, including 2 picket boats, 2 barges, 1 launch, 1 pinnace, , 2 dinghies.

the kriegsmarine considered ships sea boats, slight roll. built, wet in head sea, though improved installation of clipper bow in 1940–1941. ships highly maneuverable, particularly when maneuvering setting diesel engines used, in half of engines each shaft run in reverse. ships heeled on 13 degrees rudder hard over. low stern wet in stern sea, , equipment stored there lost overboard.

machinery

the deutschland-class ships equipped 4 sets of 9-cylinder, double-acting, two-stroke diesel engines built man. adoption of all-diesel propulsion system radical innovation @ time , contributed significant savings in weight. each set controlled transmissions built ag vulcan. engines paired on 2 propeller shafts, attached three-bladed screws 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) in diameter. deutschland fitted 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in) diameter screws, though replaced larger screws. engines rated @ 54,000 metric horsepower (53,261 shp; 39,717 kw) , top speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph). did not meet expected shaft-horsepower on trials, though did exceed design speeds. deutschland s engines reached 48,390 ps (47,730 shp; 35,590 kw) , 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph), , admiral scheer s engines reached 52,050 ps (51,340 shp; 38,280 kw) , 28.3 knots (52.4 km/h; 32.6 mph). horsepower figures admiral graf spee not recorded, though top speed on trials 29.5 knots (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph).

deutschland carry 2,750 t (2,710 long tons) of fuel oil; enabled maximum range of 17,400 nautical miles (32,200 km; 20,000 mi) @ speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph). increase in speed 1 knot reduced range 16,600 nmi (30,700 km; 19,100 mi). @ higher speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), range fell 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi). admiral scheer carried 2,410 t (2,370 long tons) , had correspondingly shorter range of 9,100 nmi (16,900 km; 10,500 mi) @ 20 kn. admiral graf spee stored 2,500 t (2,500 long tons) of fuel, enabled range of 8,900 nmi (16,500 km; 10,200 mi). electricity supplied 4 electric generators powered 2 diesel engines. total output 2,160 kw deutschland, 2,800 kw admiral scheer, , 3,360 kw admiral graf spee, @ 220 volts. steering controlled single rudder.

armament

lützow s rear gun turret

the 3 deutschland-class ships armed main battery of 6 28 cm sk c/28 guns mounted in 2 triple turrets, 1 on either end of superstructure. turrets drh lc/28 type , allowed elevation 40 degrees, , depression −8 degrees. provided guns maximum range of 36,475 m (39,890 yd). fired 300 kg (660 lb) projectile @ muzzle velocity of 910 meters per second (3,000 ft/s). guns supplied total 630 rounds of ammunition, , later increased 720 shells.

the secondary battery comprised 8 15 cm sk c/28 guns, each in single mplc/28 mountings arranged amidships. these mountings allowed elevation 35 degrees , depression −10 degrees, range of 25,700 m (28,100 yd). supplied total of 800 rounds of ammunition, though later in careers increased 1,200 rounds. these shells weighed 45.3 kg (100 lb) , had muzzle velocity of 875 m/s (2,870 ft/s). ships equipped 8 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes placed in 2 quadruple launchers mounted on stern.

as built, ships anti-aircraft battery consisted of 3 8.8 cm sk l/45 anti-aircraft guns in single mounts. these replaced in 1935 6 8.8 cm sk c/31 guns in twin mounts. admiral graf spee , deutschland rearmed in 1938 , 1940, respectively, 6 10.5 cm l/65 guns, 4 3.7 cm sk c/30 guns , ten 2 cm flak guns—the number of 2 cm guns on deutschland increased 28. admiral scheer had been rearmed 1945 6 4 cm (1.6 in) guns, 8 3.7 cm guns, , thirty-three 2 cm guns.

armor

the ships main armored belt 80 mm (3.1 in) thick amidships , reduced 60 mm (2.4 in) on either end of central citadel. bow , stern unarmored @ waterline. belt inclined increase protective qualities , supplemented 20 mm (0.79 in) longitudinal splinter bulkhead. upper edge of belt on deutschland , admiral scheer @ level of armored deck. on admiral graf spee, extended 1 deck higher. deutschland s underwater protection consisted of 45 mm (1.8 in) thick torpedo bulkhead; admiral scheer s , admiral graf spee s bulkheads reduced 40 mm (1.6 in). deutschland had 18 mm (0.71 in) thick upper deck , main armored deck ranged in thickness 18–40 mm. admiral scheer , admiral graf spee had 17 mm (0.67 in) main decks , armored decks ranged in thickness 17–45 mm. armored deck in deutschland , admiral scheer did not extend on entire width of ship due weight; matter rectified in admiral graf spee. likewise, torpedo bulkheads deutschland , admiral scheer stopped @ inside of double-bottom in admiral graf spee extended outer hull. ships forward conning tower had 150 mm (5.9 in) thick sides 50 mm (2.0 in) thick roof, while aft conning tower less protected, 50 mm thick sides , 20 mm (0.79 in) thick roof. main battery turrets had 140 mm (5.5 in) thick faces , 85 mm (3.3 in) thick sides. roofs ranged in thickness 85 105 mm (3.3 4.1 in). 15 cm guns armored 10 mm (0.39 in) gun shields splinter protection.

admiral scheer , admiral graf spee had improvements in armor thickness. barbettes, 100 mm thick in deutschland, became 125 mm 2 sisters. admiral scheer had belt improved, , admiral graf spee had more improved 100 mm belt, instead of 50–80 mm. armored deck improved well, , places had 70 mm thickness.