German Pocket Battleship Lutzow
The Deutschland Class Battleships (or Panzerschiffs - which means armored ship) were Germany's attempt to build a new type of ship within the harsh restrictions of the WW1 Treaty of Versailles. Limited by the treaty to 10,000 tons, Germany opted for a new type of ship which the British later termed the "Pocket Battleship". These ships had a main armament of six 11 inch guns in two triple turrets and a secondary armament of eight 5.9 inch guns. These should have been excellent commerce raiding ships as they could conceivably outgun any enemy cruiser and outrun any enemy battleship, however, their war effectiveness was hampered by numerous obstacles to include mechanical problems, the small size of the Kriegsmarine and Hitler's inability to understand naval warfare. The three ships in this class which were all commissioned by the mid 1930s were the Deutschland, Admiral Scheer and Admiral Graf Spee. However, soon after the outbreak of the war, Hitler was afraid a ship with the name Deutschland might be sunk and provide the enemy with propaganda so he required the name changed to Lutzow. These ships were officially reclassified by the Kriegsmarine as Heavy Cruisers during WW2. The Lutzow had minor war time successes and was eventually settled on the bottom after an RAF attack in Swinemunde on April 16, 1945. She served for a few more weeks as a stationary battery but was finally put out of action by her crew on May 4, 1945.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Battleship Kirishima Specs and History
Japanese Battleship Kirishima
The Imperial Japanese Navy Kongo class Battleships were all completed around the time of World War I. The four ships in this class were the Kongo, Kirishima, Hiei and Haruna and they were modernized in the early to mid 1930s. These ships had a main armament of eight 14 inch guns in four double turrets. The secondary guns were sixteen 6 inch guns (although two were removed during the modernization to give them fourteen during WW2). The Kirishima carried a complement of approximately 1220 men. The Kirishima was assigned to escort the Japanese aircraft carriers for the Pearl Harbor Raid with other surface ships and sailed with the Midway battle force in which all four IJN carriers were lost. The Kirishima was involved in numerous battles around Guadalcanal including bombarding Henderson Field. However, it was during one of her surface engagements on the night of November 14/15 that she was reduced to a burning wreck by the United States Battleships South Dakota and Washington. She sank the next day off of Savo Island with her survivors being rescued by Japanese destroyers.
The Imperial Japanese Navy Kongo class Battleships were all completed around the time of World War I. The four ships in this class were the Kongo, Kirishima, Hiei and Haruna and they were modernized in the early to mid 1930s. These ships had a main armament of eight 14 inch guns in four double turrets. The secondary guns were sixteen 6 inch guns (although two were removed during the modernization to give them fourteen during WW2). The Kirishima carried a complement of approximately 1220 men. The Kirishima was assigned to escort the Japanese aircraft carriers for the Pearl Harbor Raid with other surface ships and sailed with the Midway battle force in which all four IJN carriers were lost. The Kirishima was involved in numerous battles around Guadalcanal including bombarding Henderson Field. However, it was during one of her surface engagements on the night of November 14/15 that she was reduced to a burning wreck by the United States Battleships South Dakota and Washington. She sank the next day off of Savo Island with her survivors being rescued by Japanese destroyers.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Battlecruiser Scharnhorst Specs and History
German Battlecruiser Scharnhorst
The German Battlecruiser Scharnhorst and her sister ship Gneisenau were called Battlecruisers by some but classified by others as Battleships. These ships were Germany's next step up from the Pocket Battleships and were launched in the late 1930s. These ships had a main armament of nine 11 inch guns in three triple turrets and had twelve 5.9 inch secondary guns. She carried a crew of between 1600 and 1900 men. Her two most successful ventures were in the company of Gneisenau and were their June 1940 sinking of the British carrier Glorious and her two escorting destroyers and their March 1941 Atlantic commerce raiding cruise. They are also both known for their February 1942 "Channel Dash" with the Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen and air/surface escorts. This breakout was from Brest to German Waters through the English channel in broad daylight and was a complete embarrassment for the British. The Scharnhorst was sunk off the North Cape by British surface forces (including the Battleship Duke of York) on December 26, 1943, with only 30 survivors. A good book on the "death of the Scharnhorst" is the book SCHARNHORST by Alf. R. Jacobsen (Sutton Publishing).
The German Battlecruiser Scharnhorst and her sister ship Gneisenau were called Battlecruisers by some but classified by others as Battleships. These ships were Germany's next step up from the Pocket Battleships and were launched in the late 1930s. These ships had a main armament of nine 11 inch guns in three triple turrets and had twelve 5.9 inch secondary guns. She carried a crew of between 1600 and 1900 men. Her two most successful ventures were in the company of Gneisenau and were their June 1940 sinking of the British carrier Glorious and her two escorting destroyers and their March 1941 Atlantic commerce raiding cruise. They are also both known for their February 1942 "Channel Dash" with the Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen and air/surface escorts. This breakout was from Brest to German Waters through the English channel in broad daylight and was a complete embarrassment for the British. The Scharnhorst was sunk off the North Cape by British surface forces (including the Battleship Duke of York) on December 26, 1943, with only 30 survivors. A good book on the "death of the Scharnhorst" is the book SCHARNHORST by Alf. R. Jacobsen (Sutton Publishing).
Battlecruiser Dunkerque Specs and History
French Battlecruiser Dunkerque
The Battlecruisers Dunkerque and Strasbourg were completed in the late 1930s and were France's response to the German Pocket Battleships. These battlecruisers had main armament of eight 13 inch guns in two quadruple turrets and sixteen 5.1 inch guns as the secondary weapons. The Dunkerque had a crew of approximately 1400 and was scuttled by the French in Toulon on November 27, 1942.
The Battlecruisers Dunkerque and Strasbourg were completed in the late 1930s and were France's response to the German Pocket Battleships. These battlecruisers had main armament of eight 13 inch guns in two quadruple turrets and sixteen 5.1 inch guns as the secondary weapons. The Dunkerque had a crew of approximately 1400 and was scuttled by the French in Toulon on November 27, 1942.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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