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GERMAN
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Battleships |
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Bismarck
Class
Large, fast, well armed and well armoured, these were formidable ships.
Their main influence on the war came not in the battles they fought, but
rather in the effect they had on British naval strategy, tying up
much-needed ships in home waters which might otherwise have had a profound
impact elsewhere (particularly in the Mediterranean).
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Briefing (.pdf) |
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Aircraft Carriers |
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None available
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Cruisers |
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Deutschland
Class
Pocket Battleship
The same size and speed as a cruiser but with the guns of a battleship,
these were the first major warships built by Germany after the end of
World War 1. Ideally suited to Germany's needs at the time, they made both a
political and military statement that was hard to ignore.
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Briefing (.pdf) |
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Destroyers |
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1934-Type
Destroyer (Z1-Class)
These were the first destroyers built by Germany after the first world
war, and also the most numerous type. Designed to make up for inferior
numbers by having individually superior ships, these were larger than
contemporary British and French vessels. Although sound in principle, they
suffered from a number of problems primarily caused by Germany's lack of
design and operational experience after World War 1.
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Briefing (.pdf) |
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Submarines |
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Type II U-boat
These boats were a first-step
towards rearmament, intended to provide Germany with practical experience
in submarine construction and operation, and thus to lay the foundation
for the larger boats that were to follow. They were limited by their small
size, which resulted in a small operational area and minimal offensive
capability, however these limitations were a deliberate choice and they
were seen to be very effective within their intended role.
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Briefing (.pdf) |
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Small Craft |
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None available
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Other
Ships |
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None available |
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