Hi all,
As posted on the "Cruisers for South America" thread, here are NSWE's cousins to the
Leipzig class
SchnellKreuzer 1930, New Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Light Cruiser laid down 1930
Displacement:
8,751 t light; 9,074 t standard; 9,916 t normal; 10,590 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
599.37 ft / 574.15 ft x 59.06 ft x 21.33 ft (normal load)
182.69 m / 175.00 m x 18.00 m x 6.50 m
Armament:
12 - 5.87" / 149 mm guns (3x4 guns), 100.31lbs / 45.50kg shells, 1930 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
10 - 3.46" / 88.0 mm guns in single mounts, 20.79lbs / 9.43kg shells, 1925 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.64lbs / 0.74kg shells, 1930 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 1,431 lbs / 649 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
12 - 21.0" / 533 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 315.78 ft / 96.25 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Ends: 0.79" / 20 mm 258.33 ft / 78.74 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Main Belt covers 85 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 1.97" / 50 mm 3.94" / 100 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 1.57" / 40 mm 0.79" / 20 mm -
- Armour deck: 1.57" / 40 mm, Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines plus diesel motors,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 82,470 shp / 61,522 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 4,000nm at 19.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,515 tons
Complement:
496 - 645
Cost:
£3.376 million / $13.505 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 180 tons, 1.8 %
Armour: 1,562 tons, 15.8 %
- Belts: 560 tons, 5.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 310 tons, 3.1 %
- Armour Deck: 672 tons, 6.8 %
- Conning Tower: 20 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,499 tons, 25.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,360 tons, 44.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,166 tons, 11.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 1.5 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
13,465 lbs / 6,108 Kg = 133.1 x 5.9 " / 149 mm shells or 1.6 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 14.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 63 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.50
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.27
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.480
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.72 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.47 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 32.50 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 34.45 ft / 10.50 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Mid (60 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Stern: 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Average freeboard: 22.64 ft / 6.90 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 97.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 152.9 %
Waterplane Area: 23,064 Square feet or 2,143 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 122 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 108 lbs/sq ft or 529 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 2.24
- Overall: 1.06
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily
SchnellKreuzer 1938, New Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Light Cruiser laid down 1930 (Engine 1938)
Displacement:
8,774 t light; 9,133 t standard; 9,916 t normal; 10,543 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
599.37 ft / 574.15 ft x 59.06 ft x 21.33 ft (normal load)
182.69 m / 175.00 m x 18.00 m x 6.50 m
Armament:
6 - 7.99" / 203 mm guns (3x2 guns), 268.96lbs / 122.00kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
10 - 3.46" / 88.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.05lbs / 10.00kg shells, 1930 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1930 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 1,853 lbs / 840 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
12 - 21.0" / 533 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 315.78 ft / 96.25 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Ends: 0.79" / 20 mm 258.33 ft / 78.74 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Main Belt covers 85 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 1.97" / 50 mm 3.94" / 100 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 1.57" / 40 mm 0.79" / 20 mm -
- Armour deck: 1.57" / 40 mm, Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines plus diesel motors,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 91,270 shp / 68,088 Kw = 33.86 kts
Range 4,000nm at 19.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,410 tons
Complement:
496 - 645
Cost:
£3.519 million / $14.077 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 220 tons, 2.2 %
Armour: 1,585 tons, 16.0 %
- Belts: 560 tons, 5.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 333 tons, 3.4 %
- Armour Deck: 672 tons, 6.8 %
- Conning Tower: 20 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,499 tons, 25.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,310 tons, 43.5 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,142 tons, 11.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 160 tons, 1.6 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
12,824 lbs / 5,817 Kg = 50.2 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 1.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 2.7 ft / 0.8 m
Roll period: 15.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.63
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.18
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.480
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.72 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.47 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 32.50 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 34.45 ft / 10.50 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Mid (60 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Stern: 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Average freeboard: 22.64 ft / 6.90 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 101.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 152.9 %
Waterplane Area: 23,064 Square feet or 2,143 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 107 lbs/sq ft or 524 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.92
- Longitudinal: 2.18
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
SchnellKreuzer 1943_203, New Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Light Cruiser laid down 1930 (Engine 1943)
Displacement:
8,801 t light; 9,166 t standard; 9,916 t normal; 10,517 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
599.37 ft / 574.15 ft x 59.06 ft x 21.33 ft (normal load)
182.69 m / 175.00 m x 18.00 m x 6.50 m
Armament:
6 - 7.99" / 203 mm guns (3x2 guns), 268.96lbs / 122.00kg shells, 1934 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
4 - 4.13" / 105 mm guns (2x2 guns), 34.83lbs / 15.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
4 - 4.13" / 105 mm guns (2x2 guns), 34.83lbs / 15.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread
12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1942 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 1,911 lbs / 867 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 315.78 ft / 96.25 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Ends: 0.79" / 20 mm 258.33 ft / 78.74 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Main Belt covers 85 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 1.97" / 50 mm 3.94" / 100 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
4th: 1.57" / 40 mm 0.79" / 20 mm -
- Armour deck: 1.57" / 40 mm, Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines plus diesel motors,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 96,765 shp / 72,187 Kw = 34.36 kts
Range 4,000nm at 19.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,351 tons
Complement:
496 - 645
Cost:
£3.556 million / $14.224 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 229 tons, 2.3 %
Armour: 1,579 tons, 15.9 %
- Belts: 560 tons, 5.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 327 tons, 3.3 %
- Armour Deck: 672 tons, 6.8 %
- Conning Tower: 20 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,499 tons, 25.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,374 tons, 44.1 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,115 tons, 11.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 1.2 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
12,745 lbs / 5,781 Kg = 49.9 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 1.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 2.7 ft / 0.8 m
Roll period: 15.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.65
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.13
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.480
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.72 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.47 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 32.50 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 34.45 ft / 10.50 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Mid (60 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Stern: 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Average freeboard: 22.64 ft / 6.90 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 101.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 202.1 %
Waterplane Area: 23,064 Square feet or 2,143 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 116 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 109 lbs/sq ft or 531 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.92
- Longitudinal: 2.21
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
SchnellKreuzer 1943_149, New Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Light Cruiser laid down 1930 (Engine 1943)
Displacement:
8,822 t light; 9,166 t standard; 9,916 t normal; 10,517 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
599.37 ft / 574.15 ft x 59.06 ft x 21.33 ft (normal load)
182.69 m / 175.00 m x 18.00 m x 6.50 m
Armament:
12 - 5.87" / 149 mm guns (3x4 guns), 100.31lbs / 45.50kg shells, 1925 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
4 - 4.13" / 105 mm guns (2x2 guns), 34.83lbs / 15.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
8 - 4.13" / 105 mm guns (4x2 guns), 34.83lbs / 15.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread
8 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1942 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 1,634 lbs / 741 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 315.78 ft / 96.25 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Ends: 0.79" / 20 mm 258.33 ft / 78.74 m 9.22 ft / 2.81 m
Main Belt covers 85 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.94" / 100 mm 1.97" / 50 mm 3.94" / 100 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
3rd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 1.97" / 50 mm
4th: 1.57" / 40 mm 0.79" / 20 mm -
- Armour deck: 1.57" / 40 mm, Conning tower: 1.97" / 50 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines plus diesel motors,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 96,765 shp / 72,187 Kw = 34.36 kts
Range 4,000nm at 19.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,351 tons
Complement:
496 - 645
Cost:
£3.479 million / $13.915 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 206 tons, 2.1 %
Armour: 1,568 tons, 15.8 %
- Belts: 560 tons, 5.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 316 tons, 3.2 %
- Armour Deck: 672 tons, 6.8 %
- Conning Tower: 20 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,499 tons, 25.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,428 tons, 44.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,094 tons, 11.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 1.2 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
13,179 lbs / 5,978 Kg = 130.3 x 5.9 " / 149 mm shells or 1.6 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.8 m
Roll period: 15.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.14
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.480
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.72 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.47 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 32.50 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 34.45 ft / 10.50 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Mid (60 %): 24.61 ft / 7.50 m
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Stern: 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
- Average freeboard: 22.64 ft / 6.90 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 99.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 202.1 %
Waterplane Area: 23,064 Square feet or 2,143 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 119 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 110 lbs/sq ft or 538 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 2.25
- Overall: 1.04
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Originally commissioned in 1930, the
Schnellkreuzer 1930 class were intended right from the word go to operate as versatile, go-anywhere, do-anything ships, with intended roles including commerce protection, commerce raiding, flagship roles for destroyer flotillas and, if necessary, teaming up to take on heavier ships with either gunfire or torpedoes. Designed within the constraints of the London Naval Treaty, the CL-1930 class shipped with three quadruple 149.1mm/60 turrets, providing a powerful counter to destroyers and other light cruisers. These ships also marked the start of a trend within NSWE naval construction, being the first ships to take NSWE's distinctive turbo-electric drive, with boilers along the sides and a unit machinery layout for turbines, diesels and M/G sets down the middle - only two units, on the CL-1930, rather than three on later ships, due to the lack of engineering space. The initial production run was one of NSWE's largest, reflecting the multitude of roles these ships were intended to take on - five ships each for Pepys Island, South Georgia, Saxemburg Island and Thompson Island on the initial order, though the numbers for Saxemburg Island and Thompson Island were cut to three each after cost over-runs, then re-instated, but with the "additional" four for sale to Argentina - relations between New Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Argentina were quite good at this time, NSWE having the cash balance to trade effectively with the resource-rich but cash-poor nation - NSWE had pursued this relationship to provide some security from the British forces in the Falklands - while not at war, the Royal Navy were obviously the dominant force in the area and the House of Friedrich were wary of becoming a rich, poorly defended jewel (particularly the Pepys Island group, close to the Falklands, NSWE's seat of government and, perhaps more importantly, home to the majority of NSWE's heavy industry, fuelling the rest of NSWE's economy), liable to be picked off at need by a more powerful neighbour.
Starting in 1938, with the treaties being honoured more in the breach than the observance, the CL-1930 class are brought in, one or two ships at a time, for refit to the 1930
Ausf. 38 standard. An austere refit, this replaced the 149.1mm quads with 203mm twins, actually substantially decreasing the ship's throw weight in unit time (firing at maximum rate, the 149.1mm quads permit the CL-1930 to throw about 6,500kg of steel and HE down range in one minute of fire, compared to about 3,500kg of steel and HE for the 203mm twins for the CL-1930/38), but vastly improving penetration at long ranges. Heavy AA armaments were also upgraded to a long-barrelled 88mm, largely to avoid having to make significant changes to the superstructure. The engines and boilers, serviced and re-rated for higher pressures, deliver slightly more power than before.
By 1943, even the CL-1930/38 are due for some attention. Priority is given to the CL-1930 that were not refitted first time around, one ship each from the Saxemburg and Thompson Island flotillas, acting as trial ships for the CL-1930
Ausf. 43 refit. These ships still carry their original 149.1mm quads, which are left in place, as
Bauamt, in consultation with
Betriebsamt, start to refurbish the 149.1mm quads placed in storage from the 1930/38 refit. The lower throw weight and lower number of shells (and fewer barrels than the
Admiral Hipper-class) has left the CL-1930/38 at something of a disadvantage when engaging RN destroyer groups, who have taken to trying to draw the destroyer screen away and rushing the CL-1930/38s if this succeeds, relying on the CL-1930/38's lower rate of fire to allow safe movement into their own firing range. At
Betriebsamt's request, one ship of each patrolling pair of CL-1930s is to be refitted to CL-1930/43/149 standard, allowing it to keep RN destroyer groups from closing. Once the 203mm refits are completed, this is also found to be advantageous for another reason: the higher topweight of the 203mm guns does not permit a full heavy AA suite, the CL-1930/43/203 ships having to land a pair of 10.5cm /65 SK C/33 and replace them with 3.7cm/69 M42s. With the capture of the Falklands and more area to protect (and a requirement to replace wartime losses) some new hulls are constructed, these largely being the hulls to take the 149.1mm quads. Once again, work is undertaken on the engines to maintain speed - NSWE's practice of using turbo-electric propulsion, while having some pitfalls, permits installation of still higher-pressure boilers and a change to turbo-diesels for cruising with very few changes outside of the engine and boiler rooms, and with only one turbine and one set of steam lines, rather than two or three, NSWE can implement higher-pressure boilers in particular more easily and more reliably than the
Kriegsmarine.
Regards,
Adam