Hello,
I made some progress on the "Gneisenau":
1.)
Gneisenau after commissioning - I have redone the Hangar area since my last post.
This should look more like the real thing:
2.)
Gneisenau in January 1939 after her first refit.
An "atlantic bow" and a new (and ugly) funnel cap was added.
3.)
April 1940 Operation "Weseruebung":
"Gneisenau" during Unternehmen "Weseruebung" (Operation Weser-Exercise) - the German invasion of Norway.
4.)
In June 1940 "Gneisenau" sustained a torpedo hit by the british River-class submarine "HMS Clyde".
My drawing depicts her during sea trials in the Baltic Sea in late 1940 after all repairs were done.
5.)
"Gneisenau" in January 1941 during Operation "Berlin".
Together with her sister "Scharnhorst" she broke out into the Atlantic on a commerce raiding mission, which lastet until 22 March, when both ships arrived in the occupied french harbor Brest.
6.)
This is "Gneisenau" during Operation "Cerberus" - the "channel dash".
"Gneisenau" was hit by a mine on the Brunsbüttel Roads on her way to Kiel.
Note the new hangar structure and added light AA-guns.
On the night of 26–27 February, Gneisenau suffered a heavy bomb hit during an air attack. The complete bow section burned out and 112 men were killed.
As a result the ship was decommissioned and conversion work started with the aim of replaceing the 28 cm (11") triple with 38 cm (15") twin turrets. The conversion was never finished and "Gneisenau" was subsequently sunk as a block ship in Gdynia (Gotenhafen) when the Red Army captured the city.
(My interpretion of the conversion can be found in the Never-Built-Desingns forum:
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5042)
P.S.:
I have also made some minor changes and corrections on the "Graf Spee" and the "Scharnhorst".
Thanks for looking!!
Edit: Newest Versions added