Lkr 1912 Tigr class Battlecruiser

Tigr class Battlecruiser
Class overview
Name	Tigr class Battlecruiser
Operators	Far Eastern Imperial Navy
Planned	4
Built	4
Active	4
General Characteristics
Type	Battlecruiser
Displacement	32,500 tons standard 36,500 tons full load
Length	220.98 metres (725.0 ft)
Beam	30.3 metres (99 ft)
Draught	8.78 metres (28.8 ft)
Propulsion	4 shafts, 4 Steam Turbines
Power	25 water-tube boilers 66,000 ihp (49,000 kW)
Speed	26.5 kts
Range	8,000 nm at 14 kts
Complement	1235
Armament	4 × 3 356mm/50 KO 1912 g gun 16 120mm/45 KO 1904 g gun 4 457mm torpedo tubes
Armour	Belt: 100-237 mm Deck: 25-76 mm conning tower: 300 mm

Development

First battlecruisers of the new construction program after the Far Eastern-Japanese war and first "proper" battlecruisers in Far Eastern service. These ships were initially planned to have 305mm guns but rumors from Japan to switch to 356mm caliber led Far Eastern Empire to adopt the larger caliber as well. The design of the ships were rather unique with two triple turrets grouped fore and aft in centerline linear arrangement. The turrets were well seperated to ensure maximum resilience. The B and C turrets could fire directly forward with elevated angle of barrels.

Armor layout of the class repeated the LK 1909 g design with slight increase in thickness which made these ships sometimes considered as "fast battleships" in foreign naval circles. However their role in Far Eastern strategy was to for the fast brigade of the battle squadron.

Ships in class

Name	Builder	Laid down	Launch Date	Entered Service	Fate
Tigr	Novaya Verf, Dalny	September 1912	December 1913	January 1915	Extant in 1920
Lev	Novaya Verf, Dalny	September 1912	December 1913	February 1915	Extant in 1920
Leopard	Voenno-Morskoy verf, Dalny	September 1912	November 1913	January 1915	Extant in 1920
Ibris	Voenno-Morskoy verf, Dalny	September 1912	January 1914	March 1915	Extant in 1920

See Also

Ships of Far Eastern Imperial Navy 1920