class battleship class capital ships alternatively referred battlecruisers battleships built nazi_germany kriegsmarine world war class comprised vessels lead ship launched considered lead ship sources referred class sources laid commissioned marked beginning german naval treaty versailles ships armed guns triple turrets plans replace weapons guns twin turrets ships laid launched late commissioned german fleet early operated early portion world war including sorties atlantic raid british merchant shipping ships participated german invasion norway operations norway ships engaged battlecruiser sank aircraft carrier june engagement glorious achieved longest range naval gunfire hits history early ships daylight dash english channel occupied france germany late heavily damaged allied air raid kiel early joined class norway allied convoys soviet_union destroyers sortied norway attack convoy germans instead intercepted british naval patrols battle royal_navy battleship york sank meantime repair work begun ship process rearmed sunk work sister abandoned instead sunk wreck broken scrap 1950s classification class german ships officially classified kriegsmarine battleship previous german battleships classified ships line armoured ship adversary royal_navy rated battlecruisers war classified battleships jane fighting ships lists classes battleships adversary united_states_navy rated battleships english language reference works referred battleships battlecruisers design development treaty versailles established terms concluding world war restricted german naval warships displacing long tons short tons debates germany role size navy continued 1920s increased naval france soviet_union prompted germans begin drawing designs large capital ships design completed called long tons short tons battlecruiser armed guns twin gun turrets adolf hitler came power germany clear naval command intention building large fleet challenge british supremacy sea primarily concerned possibility limited war france require protection german sea lanes end authorized ships class augment class armoured ships ships displace tons armament speed extra taken increased protection hitler wanted follow course seen overtly treaty versailles realize commerce raiders provoke great_britain severely ton battlecruisers armed inch guns regarded inferior royal_navy battleships battlecruisers commission combat german french built small class battleships early 1930s turn prompted german navy begin plans powerful battlecruiser design head german_navy argued increase defensive qualities increase offensive power main battery addition triple turret view kriegsmarine saw ton design hitler agreed increased armour protection internal subdivision refused permit increase armament finally february hitler addition turret new ship displace long tons short tons armed guns triple turrets secure political freedom build new ships hitler concluded anglo german naval agreement guaranteed great_britain superiority capital ships importantly removed limitations treaty versailles german navy construction new class cruisers canceled way provisional names planned class cruisers new ships contracts awarded kiel construction held months partly hitler wanted secure treaty britain work began partly numerous design changes ships ordered maximum calibre naval gun allowed anglo german naval agreement inch hitler soon second thoughts guns new ships ordered armed inch weapons turrets readily available turrets years develop hitler wanted capital ships soon possible fulfill political ideals reminded despite anglo german naval agreement british historically sensitive increases main gun aboard german capital ships ships armed guns provision earliest opportunity turret eventually class battleships general characteristics long waterline long overall slightly shorter overall length ships beam designed displace long tons given ships draft standard displacement long tons reduced draft combat load long tons draft increased ships hulls constructed longitudinal steel frames outer hull plates hulls contained watertight compartments double length german navy considered ships poor sea boats bow heavy fully equipped wet high bridge problem extent replacement straight stem atlantic bow january august respectively use turret remained restricted heavy seas ships rear problems stern frequently wet ships slow entering turn required assistance shallow waters rudder hard ships lost speed trials ships hard rudder crew officers enlisted men crew augmented officers men serving squadron flagship carried number smaller including picket boats launches barges propulsion initially diesel propulsion planned ships decided use steam propulsion main reason required total output desired speed times case triple screw ships meant twice shaft horsepower shaft case quadruple screw ship amounted horsepower shaft requirement diesel technology available engines meet demand time high pressure steam proved successful considered suitable choice high power machinery powered geared steam turbines equipped geared turbines turbines drove bladed screws diameter steam provided turbines wagner ultra high pressure oil fired boilers produced pressures standard kpa temperatures engines rated metric horsepower shp revolutions minute rpm trials produced ihp rpm steaming reverse engines rated ihp ships designed speed knots mph trials vessels beat designed speeds hit knots mph knots mph ships carried metric tons long tons short tons fuel oil designed additional storage areas including hull spaces belt torpedo bulkhead increased capacity metric tons long tons short tons maximum fuel load ships expected steam nautical miles cruising speed knots mph reached nmi knots managed nmi speed electrical power supplied ships electricity plants plant consisted diesel generators turbo generators diesel generators divided pairs provided kilowatts supplied turbo generators mixed capacity ran supplied remaining provided total power output volts armament class ships built inch caliber quick firing guns triple turrets forward aft guns improvement earlier guns mounted class cruisers guns smaller caliber main guns navies preferred number gunnery officers kriegsmarine higher rate fire guns equipped different types shells armour piercing shell weighed high explosive shells weighed type base fuse version nose fuse types shells charges fore charge main charge fired shells rate fire rounds minute muzzle velocity shells meters second feet second guns expected fire rounds wear incurred warrant replacement guns mounted turrets turrets named order bow ship similarly german installations turrets electric system rotation operations hydraulic systems rotating mass turret tonnes internal barbette diameter traversing speed good sec turrets allowed depression guns elevation turrets turret capable depressing maximum elevation guns hit targets yards ships carried secondary battery quick firing guns guns mounted twin turrets pedestal mounts turrets pedestal mounts enabled barrel depression turrets allowed elevation limited guns fired shells rate minute expected fire rounds barrel wear repair replacement necessary guns range turrets capable degrees elevation slightly longer range supplied shells shells gun anti aircraft battery consisted fourteen guns sixteen guns guns guns fired rate rounds minute effective ceiling feet mounted twin mounts amidships allowed depression elevation engage surface targets guns maximum range elevation guns placed manually operated twin mounts effective ceiling limited rate fire rounds minute deck mounted torpedo tubes taken light cruisers leipzig installed ships tubes supplied torpedoes torpedoes long carried set speeds knots mph knots mph knots mph knots torpedoes range knots range fell considerably knots range reduced later found speed caused engine discovery use discontinued equipped sets radar mounted forward gun director located bridge second radar set rear main battery gun director sets operated initially sets upgraded operate armour class ships equipped krupp armour upper armoured deck thick backed main armour deck deck thick aft increased central portion ship contained ammunition magazines machinery spaces decreased bow supported thick slopes longitudinal slopes connected lower edge main belt arrangement referred turtle deck slopes significantly increased armour protection critical areas ship ships armoured caliber shell fired battleships time ranges shell penetrate main belt sloping deck long ranges deck armour easily penetrated heavy caliber shells sections composed hard steel armoured belt thick central portion ship critical areas ship located forward turret belt reduced tapered zero bow ship aft rear gun turret belt decreased eventually tapered stern central portion belt backed thick shields belt armour composed steel protection system penetrated shell range forward conning tower thick sides roof thick rear conning tower armoured sides roof thick respectively gun turrets main battery thick faces thick sides thick roofs barbettes held gun turrets heavily armoured sides thick tapered centerline shielded gun turrets faces turrets thick thick sides thick roofs gun mounts equipped gun shields armour steel underwater protection system designed withstand direct hit explosive british aerial torpedoes smaller ship launched weapons powerful navy conducted scale underwater explosion tests sections armour cut old pre dreadnought tests revealed steel construction better impact steel plates torpedo bulkhead composed soft steel placed armoured belt plate joints incorrectly sufficiently withstand explosive underwater protection system constructed layers outer layer thick directly underneath main armoured belt designed detonate torpedo outer plate large void allow gases explosion expand dissipate fuel bunker thick outer wall absorb remaining explosive force bunker supported longitudinal transverse bulkheads underwater protection numerous faults extremely strong amidships weakened end citadel underwater protection stop areas significant weakness design arrangement torpedo bulkhead connected lower portion sloped deck angle angled bars held place bars constantly great deal stress normal bending forces hull combined explosive force torpedo bars sustain increased pressure fail beam meant protection system weaker main battery turrets significant hull space taken magazines barbettes service history construction early actions laid kiel launched december completed launch ship sustained minor damage stern chains slowing slide broke ship drifted far beached opposite shore commissioning spent year career conducting trials training cruises baltic_sea cruises revealed bow bridge january atlantic bow installed laid wilhelmshaven launched june completed january mid ship conducted trials baltic_sea ship low necessitated installation bow completed august refit large hangar ship aircraft added amidships ship emerged dockyard october november light cruisers leipzig destroyers conducted sweep iceland operation german ships encountered british armed merchant cruiser sank ship process sustained hit guns stopped pick survivors arrival cruiser prompted german ships withdraw operation april formed primary covering force invasions trondheim norway april radar picked contact ships went battle stations half hour later muzzle flashes observed turned old battlecruiser cover british operation british battlecruiser initially targeted range span minutes hit renown twice sustained hits return hits disabled turret hit destroyed main armament fire control station knocked radar gunnery radar suffered technical problems prevented effectively engaging renown british ship engaged brief period starting effective maneuvering allowed escape fears destroyers escorting renown torpedo attack prompted german commander break engagement german ships escaped slower renown course escape suffered damage turret caused heavy seas coming bows heavy cruiser admiral hipper proceeding wilhelmshaven admiral hipper destroyers departed june operations north_sea resulted sinking british transports admiral hipper destroyers detached refuel occupied norway june spotted british aircraft carrier escorted destroyers ardent range destroyers laid smoke screen attempt hide carrier germans quickly closed distance range decreased half metres german ships opened fire struck glorious range approximately longest recorded hits history naval gunfire glorious hit shells reduced burning hulk ship capsized sank shifted fire ardent engaged ships sank targets sank launched torpedoes ship evaded fourth struck starboard near rear gun turret engagement fired main battery shells torpedo hit caused significant damage watertight compartments including parts starboard engine room flooded took list stern ships withdrew trondheim limited speed knots mph arrived afternoon june june hudson bombers raf attempted bomb missed target air raid time launched royal_navy followed june luftwaffe intercepted raid shot aircraft seven ship bomb found mark failed explode june repair work permit ship sail kiel air attacks followed anti aircraft fire escorts drove reports british ships area forced ship seek refuge days resumed journey kiel repairs effected following months operation berlin command admiral broke atlantic late january raid convoys north_america great_britain february spotted convoy escorted battleship hms armed guns german ships broke attack second convoy encountered february sank tanker accounted cargo ships march spotted convoy battleship protection form week later 15th convoy intercepted sank vessels captured sank following engagement headed brest occupied france arrived march april torpedo bombers attacked port aircraft attacked successfully hit significant damage ship shipped metric tons long tons short tons water caused list settle lower water shock force explosion great deal internal damage fuel tanks electrical systems damaged salvage brought alongside assist flood control dry dock repairs prolonged british air raids night april british high level bombers attacked escaped unscathed struck times men killed wounded docked july attacked squadrons halifax bombers bombs high explosive semi found mark bomb managed penetrate armoured decks way double coming rest sea floor failed explode failed detonate bombs penetrated upper deck forward rear gun turret exploded main armoured deck bomb fell starboard detonated main armour deck ship listed having taken long tons short tons long tons short tons water casualties amounted men killed wounded following day arrived brest repairs lasted months operation early crews heavy cruiser preparations daylight dash english channel ships norway assist disruption convoys soviet_union defence occupied norway ships left brest late february remained majority operation east dover flight torpedo bombers attacked ships result struck magnetic damaged ship circuit breakers shut entire electrical system ship briefly turbines restarted ship resumed speed knots mph series air attacks ensued maneuvers anti aircraft fire luftwaffe fighters repulsed noon february reached wilhelmshaven days transferred kiel repairs lasted july continued journey norway ships attacked fighter bombers german fighters beat air attacks followed hours success british british destroyers attempted torpedo german ships heavy fire forced turn away near struck minor damage hull explosive shock damaged turbines captain ordered ship stop temporary repairs conducted lasted minutes february ship reached deployment norway january decided deploy norway destroyers attempts sail january aborted navy received reports heavy activity british air bases britain try february terminated ran aground trying avoid collision boat repairs lasted february march destroyers departed arrived march months fuel shortages curtailed major operations ships norway included class heavy cruiser november carried hour power trial achieving knots mph noted draught increased metres trials attained knots mph battle north cape december ordered intercept convoy soviet_union ship operate destroyers damaged british raid september away periodic repairs december location convoy ship left port command rear admiral british fleet significant advantage able german naval codes aware intentions cruisers belfast norfolk positioned block admiral aboard battleship hms duke york miles away steaming cut engaged cruisers belfast picked radar minutes later sheffield spotted ship distance shortly belfast fired star shells target norfolk opened fire guns span minutes hit twice second hit destroyed forward radar knot speed advantage broke engagement resumed searching convoy belfast picked minutes range time better luck gunnery norfolk hit twice shells hit disabled gun turret second tore hole hull disabled radar near misses shell splinters sheffield increased speed broke engagement british relayed position reports admiral duke york admiral decided search return port shortly british ships closed belfast illuminated ship star shells duke york fired main battery hit duke york disabled turret hit penetrated upper portion belt caused significant damage engine room hit temporarily reduced speed knots mph repairs quickly allowed steam knots mph shells main guns struck duke york mast disabled surface radars lack radar forced duke york cease fire having hit times hits duke york disabled armament process admiral ordered destroyers approach ship torpedo hit times torpedoes fired hits caused extensive flooding slowed ship knots mph duke york closed hammer away ship time turret remained operational surviving gun crews transferred ammunition disabled turrets turret water entered speed continued fall knots mph light cruiser jamaica fired torpedoes followed belfast destroyers closed fired torpedoes smoke unknown hit crippled ship listing severely low water ship capsized starboard sank propellers spinning sank position crew officers men survived rear admiral lost ship reconstruction scheduled deploy norway suffered heavy damage bombing raid night february bomb penetrated armoured deck ahead forward turret shell splinters detonated ammunition magazine tremendous damage bow ship burnt turret men killed injured estimated years ship ready service long period determined efficient repair work ship reconstructed mount guns place weapons accomplish hull need lengthened provide additional electrical system overhauled turrets removed transferred norway serve coastal defence guns april old pre dreadnought departed kiel conversion work began wrecked bow removed turrets removed transport krupp build new turrets required strengthening barbette structures support weight early repair work largely completed ship ready receive improved bow turrets failure surface units intercept destroy convoy arctic december prompted hitler order major surface units scrapped work ceased materials allocated repair diverted projects ship disarmed abandoned harbor guns placed coastal batteries denmark soviet army approached early ship towed outer harbor sunk block ship march polish salvage firm raised wreck september subsequently broke ship scrap metal turret remains trondheim norway norwegian government offered success return turret germany display museum guns denmark taken danish military turrets moved guns reserve continued fired annual training fired shot fortress turned museum
Scharnhorst-class battleship