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The “'''pocket battleship'''” (''panzershiffe''; "armored ship"), 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.
The “'''pocket battleship'''” (''panzershiffe''; "armored ship"), 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 three pocket battleships: the ''Deutschland'' (later renamed the ''Lutzow''), the ''[[Admiral Graf Spee (heavy cruiser)|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]].<ref>German Pocket Battleships, by Gordon Williamson, Osprey Publishing, 2003</ref>
In all, Germany built and operated three pocket battleships: the ''Deutschland'' (later renamed the ''Lutzow''), the ''[[Admiral Graf Spee (heavy cruiser)|Admiral Graf Spee]]'', and the ''Admiral Scheer''. Each had a displacement of 11,700 tons and an average crew of 30 officers and 1040 men. Main armament consisted of 6 11-inch guns in two triple turrets and 8 6-inch guns in individual turrets. Two propeller shafts, driven by diesel powerplants, gave the ships a top speed of 28 knots. In addition, each ship carried two float planes. All saw service in [[World War II]].<ref>German Pocket Battleships, by Gordon Williamson, Osprey Publishing, 2003</ref>
==''Deutschland''/''Lutzow''==
==''Deutschland''/''Lutzow''==
In February 1942, the ''Admiral Scheer'' was sent north to Narvik, in Norway, and was later joined by her sister ship, the ''Lutzow''. Both ships were assigned to attack the Arctic convoy PQ 17, but the ''Lutzow'' ran aground, and the ''Admiral Scheer'' never made contact with the enemy. On a later mission in those waters, she had more success, sinking an icebreaker and shelling Soviet shore facilities.
In February 1942, the ''Admiral Scheer'' was sent north to Narvik, in Norway, and was later joined by her sister ship, the ''Lutzow''. Both ships were assigned to attack the Arctic convoy PQ 17, but the ''Lutzow'' ran aground, and the ''Admiral Scheer'' never made contact with the enemy. On a later mission in those waters, she had more success, sinking an icebreaker and shelling Soviet shore facilities.
In December 1942, the ship returned to Wilhelmshaven for an overhaul. Bombing attacks in port caused only minor damage to the ''Admiral Scheer'', but forced its removal to Swinemunde on the Baltic Sea. The overhaul was completed, and the ship was transferred to the Fleet Training Group, where she was used in the training of Kriegsmarine cadets through 1943 and most of 1944. In autumn of 1944, the ''Admiral Scheer'' was reassigned to provide fire support for retreating German forces on the Eastern Front. Surviving several attempts by Soviet aircraft to sink her, she continued this mission in 1945, in addition to evacuating refugees. In April, while in port in Kiel for desperately needed maintenance on her gun barrels, she was hit and heavily damaged by an RAF bombing attack, causing her to capsize soon afterward. As most of her crew was off the ship while this maintenance was taking place, the loss of life was minimal.
==''Admiral Graf Spee''==
==''Admiral Graf Spee''==