Deutschland Class Pocket Battleship

Briefing
written by
James Davies

Key Information

Overview

After the end of the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles restricted Germany to a collection of vessels that were barely adequate for coastal defence (6 obsolete battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats). The treaty permitted the replacement of the battleships and cruisers 20 years after launch (i.e. in the 1920s), although replacement 'battleships' were limited to a maximum of 10,000 tons displacement, which matched the tonnage of cruisers (as defined in the inter-war naval treaties).

Germany had great difficulty deciding on an appropriate design of ship to replace the very old pre-dreadnought era battleships. The tonnage limitation was severe, making it impossible to build a ship that was heavily armed and heavily armoured. Faced with treaty limitations on the number of ships, and with potential threats from Russia, Poland and France, the choice of design was not easy. Slow, short range, heavily armoured ships (for coastal defence) were rejected as Germany wanted to retain an ocean-going navy to project political influence world wide, and typical cruiser-type vessels were rejected due to a desire to make use of Germany's ability to mount heavy guns on a small hull (other nations could not do this due to treaty limits). It was eventually decided to build a ship that was well armed, with sufficient speed to out-run any superior ships, but with relatively light armour (to remain close to the treaty limitations).

The main guns were chosen to be six 280 mm (11 in) guns in two turrets (one forward and one aft). Larger guns were considered, but were discounted due to weight limitations and possible adverse political consequences. Secondary armament was eight 150 mm (5.9 in) guns, fitted in single shielded mounts (four to port and four to starboard). For anti aircraft defence, three World War One vintage 88 mm (3.5 in) guns were provided (one on each side of the funnel, and one on the centreline aft), along with eight 37 mm (1.5 in) guns in twin mounts and four single 20 mm (0.8 in) machineguns. Eight torpedo tubes were provided on the stern of the vessel, aft of the turret, four on each side of the ship. Before the start of the Second World War this was modified, by replacing the single 88 mm guns with twin mounts, and further modifications to the light guns were made throughout the war.

The armour arrangement was designed to save weight wherever possible, with reduced thickness inside the armoured longitudinals and tapering forward and aft. The main belt was 80 mm (3.1 in) thick, with deck armour of 45 mm (1.8 in) outside the longitudinal armour and 30 mm (1.2 in) inside. The turrets had 140 mm (5.5 in) front, 80 mm (3.1 in) sides and 105 mm (4.1 in) roof. The conning tower had 140 mm (5.5 in) protection.

Diesel engines were chosen for the main machinery, in contrast to the steam turbines fitted in ships of other navies, as it was hoped that this would save weight. Eight engines provided power to the two propeller shafts, for 56,800 shp, giving a maximum speed of 28 knots. Fuel capacity was 3,347 m3 (118,198 ft3), sufficient to allow 18,650 nm at 15 knots, or 7,149 nm at 26 knots.

Initially designed for one aircraft, and without a catapult, she was modified before the start of the Second World War to carry a second aircraft, and a catapult was fitted. This aircraft was the Arado Ar 196 two seat floatplane.

There was some dissatisfaction with the ships' seakeeping qualities, with the night action control positions in the final two ships of the class being unusable due to spray. To address this attempts were made to reduce weight, and a plan was put in place to lengthen and widen the ships, however the refit (which was expected to take a year) did not take place.

Although limited by treaty to a displacement of 10,000 tons, the vessel actually displaced over 11,500 tons standard (over 15,000 tons full load), however the ship was a creditable effort to keep within the Versailles treaty limits whilst still providing a useful warship. Due to the battleship-type gun arrangement being combined with a relatively tiny hull, she was referred to as a 'pocket' battleship by the rest of the world. Two other warships followed; the Admiral Scheer and the Admiral Graf Spee. These ships differed in detail to the original (and to each other), however none of the fundamental design elements was altered.

The pocket battleships had an eventful career with the Kreigsmarine. All saw action in the Spanish Civil War (the Deutschland being bombed and suffering her first action casualties), all made raiding sorties in to the Atlantic, and all saw action with surface forces. Despite some seakeeping problems, the ships performed well in action and showed the wisdom of the design choices made.

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