Difference between revisions of "Pocket Battleship"
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==''Deutschland''== | ==''Deutschland''== | ||
The first of this new class of ship, the ''Deutschland'' was launched in 1931 and commissioned in 1933. She was active in Spanish waters during the [[Spanish Civil War]], evacuating refugees and escorting German ships carrying supplies to the Nationalists. In May 1937, the ship was attacked by Republican aircraft and suffered two bomb hits. 23 sailors were killed and 73 wounded. In retaliation for this attack, [[Adolf Hitler]] ordered the bombardment of the Republican-held harbor of Almeria by the ''Deutschland'''s sister ship, the ''Admiral Scheer''. | The first of this new class of ship, the ''Deutschland'' was launched in 1931 and commissioned in 1933. She was active in Spanish waters during the [[Spanish Civil War]], evacuating refugees and escorting German ships carrying supplies to the Nationalists. In May 1937, the ship was attacked by Republican aircraft and suffered two bomb hits. 23 sailors were killed and 73 wounded. In retaliation for this attack, [[Adolf Hitler]] ordered the bombardment of the Republican-held harbor of Almeria by the ''Deutschland'''s sister ship, the ''Admiral Scheer''. | ||
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| + | ==''Admiral Scheer''== | ||
| + | The Admiral Scheer was the second ship of the class, launched in April of 1933 and commissioned into the German Navy in November 1934. Her namesake was the commander of the German fleet at the Battle of Jutland. Like the ''Deutschland'', she saw service in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War. On May 31, 1937, the ''Admiral Scheer'' bombarded the port of Almeria in reprisal for the Republican attack on the ''Deutschland'', causing serious damage and many casualties. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 04:08, March 26, 2008
The “pocket battleship” (Panzershiffe in German) was a German warship officially classified by weight as a heavy cruiser, but with the firepower of a battleship. The design was meant to comply with the terms of the Versailles Treaty (which allowed post-WWI Germany only a couple of battleships over 11,900 metric tons) while providing the German Navy with more capital ships.
In all, Germany built and operated 3 pocket battleships: the Deutschland (later renamed the Lutzow), the Admiral Graf Spee, and the Admiral Scheer. Each had a displacement of 11,700 tons, a main armament of 6 11-inch guns, and diesel powerplants driving two propeller shafts. All saw service in World War II.[1]
Deutschland
The first of this new class of ship, the Deutschland was launched in 1931 and commissioned in 1933. She was active in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War, evacuating refugees and escorting German ships carrying supplies to the Nationalists. In May 1937, the ship was attacked by Republican aircraft and suffered two bomb hits. 23 sailors were killed and 73 wounded. In retaliation for this attack, Adolf Hitler ordered the bombardment of the Republican-held harbor of Almeria by the Deutschland's sister ship, the Admiral Scheer.
Admiral Scheer
The Admiral Scheer was the second ship of the class, launched in April of 1933 and commissioned into the German Navy in November 1934. Her namesake was the commander of the German fleet at the Battle of Jutland. Like the Deutschland, she saw service in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War. On May 31, 1937, the Admiral Scheer bombarded the port of Almeria in reprisal for the Republican attack on the Deutschland, causing serious damage and many casualties.
References
- ↑ German Pocket Battleships, by Gordon Williamson, Osprey Publishing, 2003