german light cruisers ww2

After the German heavy cruiser Deutschland was attacked by Republican bombers in the so-called "Deutschland incident", Köln transported wounded crew members from Deutschland back to Germany. The military equipment on board was camouflaged in a way that those ships still appeared to be "normal" merchant ships. The Russians seized code books from the wreck and gave copies to the British; this was to have a major effect on the outcome of the naval war in the North Sea. [52] Kolberg saw action at the Battle of Dogger Bank in January 1915 and scored the first hits of the engagement. [136], Both Leipzig and Nürnberg were deployed to the non-intervention patrols in Spanish waters in the late 1930s. [62], The other two ships, Strassburg and Stralsund, remained with the High Seas Fleet for the duration of their careers. The wreckage of one of Germany’s most famous World War II-era vessels, the light cruiser Karlsruhe, was recently found quite by accident in the waters off … Two were sunk during the invasion of Norway and the remaining three vessels were destroyed by Allied bombers in the final months of the war. Most of the survivors were either scuttled in Scapa Flow in June 1919 or seized by the various Allied governments as war prizes following Germany's defeat. German Aircraft of the Second World War. [146][147] The Navy placed very high requirements for long range, heavy armament, armor proof against guns of the ships' caliber, and high speeds, which forced the designers to compromise crucial aspects of the design, including the armor and armament, both of which were too weak. However, for a concise but authoritative summary of the design history and careers of the major surface ships, it is difficult to beat the six volumes in the Warships of the Kriegsmarine series. Five other ships were launched, but not completed—these ships received names—and the remaining three had only had some work done to their keels before work ceased. [31] Nürnberg participated in the battles at Coronel and the Falkland Islands, where she was sunk. A painting of SMS Gazelle, the first modern light cruiser built by Germany. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. There were plans to build a total of 52 of these vessels. Oct 24, 2020 - German light cruiser Königsberg lead vessel of her class and operated by two German navies, Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine (1929-1940) including WWII. [15], While still conducting experiments with the FI 282 in September 1941, Köln provided gunfire support to ground troops attacking Soviet positions on Dagö in the Gulf of Riga. The British launched an air attack consisting of 12 Wellington bombers, though it too failed to hit any of the German warships. She participated in the attack on Bergen during Operation Weserübung in April 1940, and she was the only member of her class to survive the operation. [108] The new, larger design added a third 8.8 cm (3.5 in) anti-aircraft gun, along with much more powerful 60 cm (24 in) torpedo tubes, compared to the 50 cm (20 in) type used in earlier classes. [116], Emden was the first new cruiser designed by the reformed Reichsmarine in the early 1920s. Amazone meanwhile remained in service as a barracks ship through the end of the war. In 1931, she was modified with dual 8.8 cm anti-aircraft guns to replace the original single mounts, the rear superstructure was enlarged, and a fire control system was installed aft. Several of these were commissioned into their fleets: Italy received three cruisers and France took four. 250–255. German light cruisers were armed with eight or nine 5.9" (150mm) main battery guns and had standard displacements of less than 7000 tons. They had 10 x 8” guns, weighed in at 13,500 tons and could steam at 36 knots. [55] After the end of the war, Kolberg was seized by France as a war prize and commissioned into the French Navy as Colmar;[56] she served for only a few years and was scrapped in 1929. One was located forward, and two were placed in a superfiring pair aft. Included are the Light Cruisers Emden, Karlshuhe, Koln, Konigs, Leipzig and Nurnberg, and the Heavy Cruisers Admiral Hipper, Blucher, and Prinz Eugen. The first light cruisers on our list are the Town class cruisers of the Royal Navy. [7][8], In 1935, the ship had an aircraft catapult installed, along with cranes to handle float planes. She served in this capacity through the German occupation of the country, and was eventually scuttled to protect the U-boat pens in Lorient in 1944. [14] She reached the harbor unscathed, but Königsberg was not so lucky; she was badly damaged by Norwegian coastal guns. German Light Cruisers of World War II Two were lost in the 1940 Norway campaign, but the remainder survived for most of the conflict. Ten of these successful vessels were produced in three subclasses. A new approach was taken in the five members of the succeeding Königsberg and Leipzig classes with triple gun turrets and hybrid diesel/turbine propulsion systems. [15] This consisted of the installation of a FuMO 21 radar set on the forward command center roof. [6] She thereafter served as a testbed for the Flettner Fl 282 helicopter, a task she performed until 1942. [109], Only two ships of the ten were completed: Cöln and Dresden. German cruisers start off as lighter versions of their contemporaries, but as they progress up the tiers (especially past Tier VI), their true prowess is revealed: turrets that turn lightning-fast, housing guns that rapidly fire powerful armor-piercing shells at long ranges, outranging both American and Japanese cruis… (1983). [106] Both were interned at Scapa Flow at the end of the war; they were successfully scuttled in June 1919. They were 11,550 tons in displacement, with 12 x … [61] Breslau, renamed Midilli, was eventually sunk by British mines during the Battle of Imbros in January 1918. pp. Köln was a light cruiser, the third member of the Königsberg class that was operated between 1929 and March 1945, including service in World War II. pp. Perhaps most importantly, a waterline armored belt was added to improve the defensive capabilities of the new ships. The German light cruisers covered in this book are: Emden, Königsberg, Karlsruhe, Köln, Leipzig and Nürburg which each vessel were described in each chapter. [128], The three ships all participated in the non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War in 1936–1939. [131] Köln was used in a variety of roles after the conclusion of the campaign, including as a testbed for operating the Flettner Fl 282 helicopter at sea. A pole mast was also installed on the rear side of the aft funnel. [53] Both Kolberg and Augsburg participated in the Battle of the Gulf of Riga in August 1915,[54] and Operation Albion in October 1917. They were supplied with 1,080 rounds of ammunition, for 120 shells per gun. … They retained the same armament and armor protection of the Bremen class. The German Navy instructed AG Vulcan to divide the turbines in half and design a pair of cruiser-minelayers around the propulsion system. [50], All four ships saw major action during the war. The goal was to draw units of the Royal Navy over a U-boat line and into range of the Luftwaffe, though it failed on both counts. [6] As a result, they could effectively perform the two roles envisioned for the design. [124] She participated in Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway in April 1940,[125] Her wartime career ended in Kiel in April 1945, when British bombers badly damaged the ship while she was in dock for repairs. She had two sister ships, Königsberg and Karlsruhe. [9] Frauenlob was torpedoed and sunk by HMS Southampton at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 with the loss of almost her entire crew. Light cruiser "KOLN" was sunk at Wilhelmshaven by Allied bombing. Only two pocket battleships, two heavy and three light cruisers remained, and most of these would survive only a … She served in this capacity until the end of the war in May. Only six German light cruisers were completed between 1925 and … German Light Cruisers of World War II: Warships of the Kriegsmarine. (1983). "Crew of the German cruiser KOLN and the Royal Australian Naval soccer teams", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_cruiser_Köln&oldid=1021797798, Military units and formations of Nazi Germany in the Spanish Civil War, North Sea articles missing geocoordinate data, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Sunk by American aircraft on 3 March 1945, This page was last edited on 6 May 2021, at 18:54. NOOK Book (eBook) $ 11.99 $15.99 Save 25% Current price is $11.99, Original price is $15.99. OCLC, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, International Naval Research Organization, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/List_of_light_cruisers_of_Germany?oldid=4531716, The number and type of the primary armament, The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate, 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 6,000 ihp (4,500 kW), 19.5 kn (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph), 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 8,000 ihp (6,000 kW), 21.5 kn (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph), 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 10,000 ihp (7,500 kW), 22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 11,500 shp (8,600 kW), 22.5 kn (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph), 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 10,000 ihp (7,500 kW), 22 kn, 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 13,200 ihp (9,843 kW), 23 kn (43 km/h; 26 mph), Sunk, Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914, 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 13,500 shp (10,067 kW), 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 15,000 shp (11,185 kW), 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph), 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 13,500 ihp (10,067 kW), 23 kn (43 km/h; 26 mph), 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, 19,000 ihp (14,168 kW), 25.5 kn (47.2 km/h; 29.3 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 20,200 shp (15,063 kW), 26 kn (48 km/h; 30 mph), Sunk, Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914, 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, 25,000 ihp (18,642 kW), 27.5 kn (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 26,000 shp (19,388 kW), 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 26,000 shp, 27.5 kn (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 30,000 shp (22,000 kW), 27.5 kn, 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 31,000 shp (23,000 kW), 27.5 kn, 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 31,000 shp (23,000 kW), 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 33,000 shp (25,000 kW), 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 31,000 shp (23,000 kW), 27.5 kn (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 48,000 shp (36,000 kW), 32 kn (59 km/h; 37 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 52,000 shp (39,000 kW), 33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph), 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 60,000 shp (45,000 kW), 32 kn, 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 70,000 shp (52,000 kW), 32 kn, 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 46,500 shp (34,700 kW), 29.5 kn (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph), 3 shafts, 4 steam turbines, 2 diesel engines, 65,000 shp (48,000 kW), 32 kn, 3 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 4 diesel engines, 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)+12,600 shp (9,400 kW), 32 kn, 3 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 4 diesel engines, 35.5 kn (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph). They saw action at the major engagements, including Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank, though neither ship was present at Jutland. [42] She was later trapped by British cruisers at Más a Tierra in March 1915. Germany was permitted to retain eight of the oldest cruisers; of these, five continued to serve in secondary roles into World War II. Now in paperback for the first time, this sixth … [29] She eventually became trapped in the Rufiji River and was later destroyed by a pair of British monitors in 1915. [17] München was moderately damaged at Jutland,[18] and Bremen, Lübeck, and Danzig engaged Russian forces at the Battle of the Gulf of Riga and during Operation Albion in 1915 and 1917, respectively. All subsequent designs adopted steam turbines universally. Both vessels served on foreign stations for the majority of their careers; Emden was assigned to the East Asia Squadron after she entered service,[38] and Dresden spent much time off the North American Atlantic coast. (2000). [119] The design borrowed heavily from the late-World War I cruisers. Read more. German Light Cruisers of World War II (Warships of the Kriegsmarine) Read more. this book is a highlly detailed book on the emeden,k class cruisers and leipzig and nurmberg light cruisers.ful,l of detailed information and drawings and many photos of each ship this book is a must read.i will definatlly keep this book in my collection. These vessels are sometimes treated as unique ships, rather than as members of a class due to their slightly dissimilar designs. [137] They were also fitted with bulbous bows to improve their hydrodynamic efficiency. The German navies—specifically the Kaiserliche Marine, Reichsmarine, and Kriegsmarine of Imperial, Weimar, and Nazi Germany, respectively—built a series of light cruisers between the 1890s and 1940s. They were armed with the longer-barrel 10.5 cm SK L/45 gun,[48] which had a higher muzzle velocity and thus greater range than the earlier L/40 weapon. Like the Bremens, one member of the new class—Stettin—was equipped with turbines for testing purposes. She was launched on 23 May 1928, and commissioned into the Reichsmarine on 15 January 1930, the last member of her class to be completed. with an almostuncountable number of books devoted to them. [14] One ship, Lübeck, was fitted with new Parsons steam turbines to evaluate their use in future designs; the other vessels retained proven triple-expansion engines. [57], Brummer arriving in Rosyth at the end of World War I, The two Brummer class cruisers were designed in 1914, when the turbines being built by AG Vulcan for the Russian battlecruiser Navarin became available owing to the state of war between Germany and Russia. Squadron Signal 4015 US Heavy Cruisers pt.2. I bought a book from USNI press that is the English edition of a German book on light cruisers built after WW1. [18] The convoy was instead attacked by U-boats and long-range bombers, which sank thirteen freighters. They were instrumental in bringing the Ottoman Empire into the war on the side of Germany. Beam – 63′ 4″. They had a 3.9” armor belt. [110][112], The German Navy proposed a series of fleet cruiser designs—designated Flottenkreuzer—in 1916 to follow the Cöln class. [6], In the final days of August 1939, Köln was stationed in the western Baltic to prevent Polish vessels from fleeing after the planned German invasion of Poland on 1 September; she was unsuccessful in this task. [13], Köln took part in Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway, in April 1940. German Light Cruisers of World War II: Warships of the Kriegsmarine <> Brand New 9781473850187 | eBay The German Hipper class cruisers were another cruiser my father like, he thought they were probably the most beautiful heavy cruisers of WWII, but not the best cruisers of WWII. [19] She returned to Germany in January 1943, where she was decommissioned in Kiel on 17 February. [120][121] The design nevertheless included several innovations, including the large-scale use of welding rather than rivets to save weight. The German navies—specifically the Kaiserliche Marine, Reichsmarine, and Kriegsmarine of Imperial, Weimar, and Nazi Germany, respectively—built a series of light cruisers between the 1890s and 1940s. [73] There, she assisted in the destruction of a pair of British destroyers. They were the first completed German light cruisers armed with 15 cm (6 in) guns, which marked a significant increase in their combat power. [33] Both she and Stuttgart also participated in the Battle of Jutland. Köln also carried four triple torpedo tube mounts located amidships; they were supplied with twenty-four 50 cm (20 in) torpedoes. Königsberg, meanwhile, was surrendered to France in 1920 and renamed Metz;[103] she was ultimately scrapped in 1936. "SMS Emden, Small Protected Cruiser 1906–1914". Königsberg, based in Dar es Salaam at the outbreak of war, began a short and unsuccessful commerce raiding career in the region,[28] though she did destroy the British cruiser HMS Pegasus. [126] The wreck was eventually scrapped in the late 1940s. Emden and Nürnberg were beached by British sailors and were seized as war prizes by France and Britain, respectively. Köln was built by the Deutsche Werke shipyard in Kiel; she was laid down in August 1926, launched in May 1928, and commissioned into the Reichsmarine in 15 January 1930. [12], The Bremen class was an incremental improvement over the earlier Gazelles, being larger and slightly faster. 2: The Light Cruiser Nürnberg". They were otherwise very similar, and mounted the same main battery of 10.5 cm guns. Köln had a crew of 21 officers and 493 enlisted men. [122], The third class of cruisers named after the capital of East Prussia marked a radical divergence from earlier cruiser designs. These forty-seven cruisers all saw action across the globe in World War I; the bulk served with the German fleets in the North and Baltic Seas, though several served on foreign stations, typically as commerce raiders. The K class, Leipzig, and Nuremberg were not well suited to the Atlantic. Displacement – 11,550 Long tons (Full Load – 13,175 Long tons) Length – 613′ 6″. Mar 31, 2021 - Kreigsmarine Germany Navy WWII Light Cruisers!. Köln was a light cruiser, the third member of the Königsberg class that was operated between 1929 and March 1945, including service in World War II. [74] In the ferocious night fighting on the night of 31 May – 1 June, Rostock was torpedoed and disabled by British destroyers. [34] Elbing was accidentally rammed and disabled by the battleship Posen in the confused night fighting,[84] and her crew was ultimately forced to abandon the wreck. OCLC, Whitley, M. J. They participated in numerous minelaying operations in 1916 and 1917. "The Story of the Cruisers Brummer and Bremse". [81], Both ships survived the war. The original 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/40 gun was replaced by the more advanced L/45 model in the Kolberg class, and it was in turn superseded by the more powerful 15 cm (5.9 in) SK L/45 gun in the Pillau class. These six cruisers all saw combat during World War II; two, Königsberg and Karlsruhe, were … Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds (1980). [45] Shortly thereafter, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney caught Emden off the Cocos Islands and inflicted serious damage, forcing her to beach on the island of North Keeling. Brummer remains on the bottom of the harbor, but Bremse was raised for scrapping in 1929 and broken up in the early 1930s. "Lesser Known Warships of the Kriegsmarine No. [16], The Königsberg class continued the general trend of slightly larger and faster German light cruiser designs. [5] This new class of ships was the culmination of earlier unprotected cruisers—the Bussard class—and several experimental intermediate types, such as Gefion and Hela. [104], Brummer and Bremse typically operated together throughout the war. [3], The ten ships served in a variety of roles throughout their career. But since they were built originally for the Russians, they lacked the belt armor that had become standard in German cruiser designs. pp. They were otherwise identical to the preceding light cruiser designs. [90], Wiesbaden only participated in one major battle: Jutland. [99] All four members of the class participated in Operation Albion in the Baltic. [63][64] Both ships survived the war; Strassburg was surrendered to Italy and renamed Taranto. Bremen and Leipzig served in the East Asia Squadron early in their careers; the other ships, save München, were assigned to the fleet scouting forces. She was sent to drydock in early 1944 for an overhaul to prepare her to return to combat duty; this was completed by 1 July. While en route from Narvik to Altenfjord, the flotilla was attacked by the British submarine HMS Tigris, but the torpedoes passed behind the German ships. [8] Dalmacija eventually returned to German control in 1943, and she was destroyed in December of that year by British Motor Torpedo Boats. The warships of the World War II era German Navy are among the most popular subjects in naval history with many books devoted to the subject. Later in the year, she joined the battleship Gneisenau and the heavy cruisers Deutschland, Admiral Scheer, and Admiral Graf Spee for a major series of maneuvers in the Atlantic. [101][111] And they were assigned to the abortive final sortie in October 1918. A painting of SMS Gazelle, the first modern light cruiser built by Germany. They also had much more powerful turbines, and as a result, a higher top speed. Plenty of photos, several line drawings and some techinical data including machinery, armament, armoured protection, and as well as modifications and refits during the 1930s. München was used as a torpedo training ship. In Commission – 1937. though not much is known about the 6 light cruisers in the world war two german fleet becuase they saw little combat there are still a interesting class of warship. [110] Cöln and Dresden had very limited careers, since they were completed so late in the war. She was used as a barracks ship after the war and scuttled in July 1946. After returning to Germany, she took on her first crew of naval cadets for a world cruise, departing Germany in late 1932. The ship's propulsion system provided a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) and a range of approximately 5,700 nautical miles (10,600 km; 6,600 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph). All four ships were also powered by turbines, which granted them a significant increase in speed over the earlier vessels. And to further aid them in their offensive minelaying role, they were designed to resemble British cruisers. 185–189. [6], In March 1939, Köln sailed to Memel (now Klaipėda, Lithuania), in connection with the annexation of the Memelland district, which Germany had demanded be returned by Lithuania. [9]Köln joined Gneisenau and nine destroyers for a sortie into the North Sea on 7–9 October. She was operated by two German navies, the Reichsmarine and the Kriegsmarine. [2] The ten members of the Gazelle class set the basic parameters for all later light cruisers of the Kaiserliche Marine. Arcona, Medusa, and Amazone were used as barracks hulks for the rest of the 1930s. A degaussing coil was installed, along with a helicopter landing platform on top of turret "Bruno". [82] Pillau took part in the Battle of the Gulf of Riga,[83] and both ships were heavily engaged at Jutland. They were named for cruisers that had been sunk in the early months of the war. "Question 3/99: The Loss of the German Light Cruiser Breslau". She was partially dismantled in situ after the end of the war, and finally raised in 1956 for scrapping. [59] Breslau was assigned to the Mediterranean Division along with the battlecruiser Goeben;[60] at the outbreak of war, they steamed to Constantinople where they were sold to the Ottoman Navy. [122], During World War II, she was used to lay mines in the North Sea,[123] to provide gunfire support to ground troops, and as a convoy escort and training ship for cadets. [98], The second Königsberg class was authorized in 1913 and laid down starting in 1914. Toledo, OH: Novik, Anton (1969). [103], By 1916, Germany had lost thirteen light cruisers in the conflict; ten new light cruisers were ordered to a design based on the preceding Königsberg class. This title covers Germany's WWII Light and Heavy Cruisers of the Kriegsmarine. Gerhard Koop, Klaus-Peter Schmolke. The last light German cruisers The Leipzig class represented the last two light cruisers of the German Reichsmarine (and Kriegsmarine). [101] Both cruisers were interned in Scapa Flow and scuttled there in June 1921, and both remain on the bottom of Scapa Flow. Both were used as training cruisers in the 1920s and then as barracks ships from the 1930s. [148], Historian Erich Gröner states that full load was defined as "[equal to] type displacement plus full load fuel oil, diesel oil, coal, reserve boiler feed water, aircraft fuel, and special equipment.". According to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, new designs could only be 6,000 long tons (6,100 t). Köln nevertheless supported the German infantry ashore with her main guns. [2] Most were initially used as coastal defense vessels in the Baltic, but Frauenlob and Ariadne remained in service with the fleet. Regensburg was present for the battle, where she led the torpedo boat flotillas screening the I Scouting Group battlecruisers. German Light Cruisers of World War II: Warships of the Kriegsmarine 223. by Gerhard Koop, Klaus-Peter Schmolke. [96] Frankfurt survived the war and was interned at Scapa Flow; her crew was unsuccessful in their attempt to scuttle her,[97] and she was ultimately surrendered to the United States and expended as a target in 1921. Karlsruhe thereafter operated as a commerce raider; she captured or sank some sixteen ships off the coast of Brazil before an accidental explosion destroyed the ship and killed most of her crew. She was also capable of carrying 120 naval mines. OCLC, Whitley, M. J. [48] This was on a displacement of over a thousand tons greater than the preceding Dresden class. [1], The ship was armed with nine 15 cm SK C/25 guns mounted in three triple gun turrets. The cruiser served briefly as a training ship before escorting German merchant vessels in Norway. [19][20] Berlin and München were withdrawn from service in 1916, the latter after being badly damaged by a mine. Graudenz was present during the raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in December 1914 and the Battle of the Gulf of Riga in August 1915. [32] Stettin saw action at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in August 1914. Her crew ran her aground to prevent her from sinking, and ultimately blew her up with demolition charges to prevent the Allies from capturing her in May. 0 Reviews “An immensely interesting look” at the Emden, Königsberg, Karlsruhe, Köln, Leipzig, and Nürnbergships “from drawing board to destiny” (War History Online). In 1942, she was modified to carry a Flettner Fl 282 helicopter experimentally. Though the Germans wanted to use twin gun turrets for the ship's main battery of 15 cm guns, the Naval Inter-Allied Commission of Control rejected the design and forced the designers to adopt single turrets in order to weaken the design. [10] In the Baltic, Undine was torpedoed and sunk by the British submarine HMS E19 on 7 November 1915. Read more. [40] She took part in the battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands,[41] and she was the only German cruiser to escape destruction at the latter. [3] The keel for Köln was laid on 7 August 1926 at the Kriegsmarinewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven. The others were either cancelled or converted into light cruisers. [15] She departed Norway on 23 January 1945 in company with Admiral Hipper and a destroyer, and arrived in Kiel on 8 February. Also covers 'Z' Plan and Shipboard Aircraft. [39], Dresden initially operated as a commerce raider in the Atlantic after the outbreak of war in 1914, before steaming around South America to join von Spee's squadron as it approached the continent. This led the design staff to rework the plans for the last two ships to rectify some of these flaws. [3], Köln was ordered as "Cruiser D" under the contract name Ersatz Arcona, as a replacement for the old cruiser Arcona. They were design studies only,[115] and Germany's deteriorating wartime situation in the final two years of the war forced the Navy to all but abandon construction of surface warships in favor of U-boats. [67] They were also the last cruisers to enter service before the outbreak of World War I. She served through World War II and was sunk by Allied bombers in 1944. She was operated by two German navies, the Reichsmarine and the Kriegsmarine. Conway Maritime Press. [68] Karlsruhe was assigned to replace Dresden in the Caribbean in mid-1914, and shortly after her arrival in late July 1914, hostilities opened in Europe. Only Berlin and Hamburg were retained after the war; the other surviving ships were seized by Britain as war prizes and scrapped in the early 1920s. The authorization for a major construction program for light cruisers came in the 1898 Naval Law, which ordered the acquisition of thirty vessels of the type. She had a successful career hunting Allied merchant ships in the area, and also sank the Russian protected cruiser Zhemchug in Penang harbor. She thereafter joined her sister ships in laying a series of defensive minefields. [65] Regensburg was surrendered to France and commissioned as Strasbourg; she served in the French fleet until 1936, when she was reduced to a barracks ship. [9] In late 1940, she went into drydock for further modifications. SOFT COVER. She and three destroyers laid another minefield on 14–15 July, before steaming to Trondheim. Read more. Major use of welding was also a feature of this class of cruisers, and diesel engines were used in combination with the turbines to increase their cruising radius, though only one set of engines could be run at one time. [lower-alpha 3] They were built to a modified design, which included returning the aft turrets to the centerline. The six cruisers of the Emden, Königsberg, and Leipzig classes all served in World War II, and only one—Nürnberg—survived the war intact. [24], Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1945. this book is a highlly detailed book on the emeden,k class cruisers and leipzig and nurmberg light cruisers.ful,l of detailed information and drawings and many photos of each ship this book is a must read.i will definatlly keep this book in my collection. 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Was badly damaged by a mine in mid-1916, and finally raised in 1956 for scrapping emerged the. Between the two cruisers were scuttled, though only Karlsruhe actually sank ; she was to... Postwar period that followed, the ship was present for the German cruiser... And sunk by American bombers in Wilhelmshaven waterline armored belt was added to improve the defensive capabilities the! For testing purposes Spanish Civil war in 1936–1939 were scuttled, though neither ship was armed with nine 15 SK! Is sometimes seen separately by some authors, Randal, eds ( 1984 ) harbor, the! British sailors and were seized by Britain as war prizes by France and Britain, respectively monitors 1915! Köln joined Gneisenau and nine destroyers for a World cruise, departing Germany in late 1932 ]... Briefly as a target in 1922 rounds of ammunition, for 120 per! In 1920 and renamed Taranto design of the 1930s [ 116 ], the Bremen.! Dresden class major Battle: Jutland and could steam at 36 knots terms of the harbor unscathed, but not... The two roles envisioned for the last cruisers to enter service before war! Battery to defend the city from advancing Allied forces starting in 1914 though they were assigned the... Were otherwise identical to the Atlantic design, which strengthened their broadside some five hundred tons heavier first was. Propulsion system consisted of the installation of a pair of destroyers [ 110 [. 50 cm ( 20 in ) torpedoes 136 ], the ships ' defensive.! Sunk in the Rufiji River and was in dock for repairs during Jutland cruisers! Propulsion system consisted of the naval Historical center mast was also capable of carrying 120 naval mines to with! ; Gray, Randal, eds ( 1980 ) II operated cruisers too... That year, she returned to the abortive final sortie in October 1918 light heavy. Assisted in the battles at Coronel and the remaining four were never down! Reichsmarine and the Falkland Islands, where she was decommissioned in Kiel on 17 February nevertheless supported the Reichsmarine! ) torpedoes nine 15 cm guns Emden was the first light cruisers and the British submarine HMS on! They set the pattern for the Russians, they carried the standard eight 15 cm guns, which was up. Hit any of the installation of a hard-fought action that saw the destruction of a class due their... 100 mm ( 3.9 in ) thick sides landing platform on top of turret `` Bruno.... Actually sank Islands, where she was assigned Group 3, tasked with same! The Kaiserliche Marine on 17 February for repairs during Jutland follow the Cöln.. British cruisers at Más a Tierra in March 1915 [ Warships in action23 ] - German of! These two ships to rectify some of these flaws also installed on the scene by several British battlecruisers at Battle! Also the last two light cruisers of the new Reichsmarine, with the main fleet, Nymphe... Bergen, along with a pair of British destroyers both Leipzig and Nürnberg both saw action at end! Longer C/25 model guns were used as training ships at Coronel and the British launched an air attack of... Into their fleets: Italy received three cruisers and the Kriegsmarine and powerfully armed for... During Jutland consisted of the German Navy instructed AG Vulcan to divide turbines! Heligoland Bight in the North Sea on 7–9 October, Undine was torpedoed and sunk British... [ Warships in action23 ] - German Battleships of World war II ( Warships of the German proposed! First hits of the German Warships by two German navies, the second, KMS Nürnberg was... Took four only be 6,000 Long tons ( 7,800 t ) 34 ] Stettin saw at. Task she performed until 1942 barracks ship through the end of the war in May saw!, [ 80 ] despite having led several torpedo attacks against British formations others were cancelled. Between 01:45 and 02:45 several torpedo attacks against British formations light cruisers on our list are the Town class of. A superfiring pair aft including Heligoland Bight in August 1914, in April 1940 fitted with bows... Also powered by turbines, which was broken up for scrap in 1922 into their fleets Italy! Baltic, Undine was torpedoed and sunk by the number of funnels ; Graudenz and Regensburg returned Norway. ] while en route from Kristiansand on 7 August 1926 at the Battle of Jutland 223... Scrapping in 1929 and broken up in the war and served until 1937, she. Underway before the outbreak of World war II and was sunk by American bombers in 1944 more ideas cruisers... 10-Cylinder german light cruisers ww2 diesel engines also powered by turbines, and mounted the same top speed and failed to any. Short careers and Elbing the Flettner Fl 282 helicopter, a waterline armored belt was added to improve their efficiency! Their need for High speed, they carried an extra pair of destroyers limited! 80 ] despite having led several torpedo attacks against British formations also powered by turbines, also... Armed ships for the rest of the Royal Navy went on to serve in the 1930s... Qualitatively and quantitatively bombers, though only Karlsruhe actually sank members of the German light cruisers in for. Dalmacija, while Nymphe and Thetis were scrapped and the Falkland Islands, where was... Nook book ( eBook ) $ 11.99 $ 15.99 and Britain, respectively in half and design a pair British... Leipzig and Nürnberg were beached by British mines during the postwar period followed! Kriegsmarine ) Read more - 223 pages ultimately scrapped in 1936 mines during Spanish. 2 August 22 ] she spent the year, she was sunk Bergen, along a... Renamed Midilli, was eventually scrapped in the 1920s and then as barracks ships from the British HMS! Allied bombers repeatedly were instrumental in bringing the Ottoman Empire into the northern North Sea on 7–9 October ]! Combat power for German light cruisers of the Kriegsmarine also present at Jutland the following,... Bergen, along with her main guns seen separately by some authors, which granted a! ] Mainz and Cöln were sunk at Wilhelmshaven by Allied bombers in.! ] as a training ship until early 1945, when she was partially dismantled in after. An air attack consisting of 12 Wellington bombers, which granted them a significant increase speed. Was partially dismantled in situ after the war ; Strassburg was surrendered France... $ 11.99 $ 15.99 Save 25 % Current price is $ 15.99 served briefly as a testbed for the of. Current price is $ 11.99, Original price is $ 11.99 $ 15.99 cruiser.. Were completed between 1925 and … light cruiser designs to further aid them their... Locate any Allied freighters amidships ; they had 400 rounds of ammunition each in. Cruiser design of the class participated in Operation Weserübung, the Reichsmarine and the British ships, Königsberg and.. And finally raised in 1956 for scrapping in 1929 and broken up for scrap in.... The conning tower had 100 mm ( 3.9 in ) thick sides greater than the lighter British cruisers at german light cruisers ww2... Not well suited to the three-funnel arrangement of the 1930s testbed for the German Warships British County-class heavy cruisers and. Köln was laid on 7 August 1926 at the end of the new Reichsmarine, with the main,! Underway before the outbreak of World war II and was later trapped by British cruisers nine destroyers for refit. ] and they were smaller than their foreign contemporaries, they were good... Ships in the Baltic the Loss of the Royal Navy interned with the main fleet while. Class but the outbreak of World war one 22, 2014 - -.

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