And what about 40mm FLAK 28? Could they be used on Tirpitz?
I think that, out of all the possible AA guns manufactured for Germany, the 4cm Flak 28 would perhaps be the likeliest choice for employment on Tirpitz given the relative location of the Kongsberg factory, but still suffers the other complications related to the 3.7cm guns.
 
Do we know about camouflages that would Graf Zeppelin receive if he would be finished?
 
Do you know why are there two versions of Europas superstructure? One looks really similar to Graf Zeppelins and other I don´t know. I think that Zeppelins is more reasonable because it has more rangefinders.
 

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Do you know why are there two versions of Europas superstructure? One looks really similar to Graf Zeppelins and other I don´t know. I think that Zeppelins is more reasonable because it has more rangefinders.
I believe it's a first and second draft. Some minor improvements were implemented in the second. I believe there's a comment here which discusses this.
 
Do you have any blueprints of H-40 B battleship? I have found blueprints of H-39 and H-40 A but H-40 B is still mystery for me. I have only this blueprint which doesn´t show much.
 

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I have found these blueprints on the disc you have on first page. I thought that this is H-40 B but the length isn´t right and superstructure is same as on H-39.
 

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I have found these blueprints on the disc you have on first page. I thought that this is H-40 B but the length isn´t right and superstructure is same as on H-39.
Left one is steam turbine powered design and right side is H-39/42, bigger than H-39 (close to H-41 size), there's one preliminary H-39 with 16x15cm guns (only data) in RM-6.
 
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I have recently done writing 5 pages of O-class design and its evolutions on RM 6_83 (starting p117-p121) in German texts, i will post them later for anyone want to read or translate (unless you're German speaker) since deepL translation isn't 100% perfect, here's some basic summary and guess:
1. "O-39" is battlecruiser "Q" due to their matching length (246m waterline compare to O at 248m), reduced length mean reduced speed at 33.5 knots, matching beam and draft as well.

2. "O-40" going back to original P-class root, requirement at 26000 tons armed but with 38cm guns only (2x2), a respond to criticism of O-class at the time, as they were large and expensive, a lesser design while carrying same guns (less 1 turret), same armor and speed could have been cost effective.

3."O-41" the medium type battleship version of O, displace almost 45000 tons, slow at 32 knots and increasing armor protection, armaments wise same as O. (39, 40 and 41 all have deck mounted two triple torpedo launchers.)

4. "O-42" influenced from H-class battleship, design wise is a scaled down H-41 armed with 8x38cm but faster (H level of protection but O armor scheme layout), weight at nearly 68000 tons, secondary batteries have 12x15cm, 12x10.5cm more smaller 3.7cm and 20mm flak 30 quad mounts and six single submerged torpedo tubes.

5. "PI" and "PII" new designs, rearrangement of machinery layout, suppose to make it compact and as well reduce citadel length and size (all-or-nothing?) as such for reduction the hangars and spotting planes has to be remove and adopt universal 12.7cm flak (8x2) over mixed 15cm and 10.5cm batteries greater flexibility, using diesel engine reduce their speed by significant (both barely make over 28 knots), also no torpedo armaments. Designer noted as speed isn't important, as they can match H-class speed, favoring more durability and flexibility while reconnaissances and spotting both done by future aircraft carriers and mainlands.

tl;dr: Criticisms and unsatisfactory performance of "cruiser-killer" O led to more alternatives, "PI,II" designed for ideal scenarios that had Germany complete plan-Z.
 
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Added some (*) notes.
An
Skl Qu A
Nachrichtlich:
M
Mwa
Betr: Schlachtchiffeubauten
Vorg: K Stb Nr. 140/42 G.Kos. vom 20.2.42
K Stb Nr. 729/42 G.Kos. vom 9.5.42

Es steht außer zweifel daß es notwendig ist, zur Ausnutzung der vorhandenen Hellinge und der Leistungsfähigkeit der werften neben dem bau der schlachtschiffe “H” noch kleinere Schlachtschiffe oder Schlachtkreuzer oder flugzeugträger zu bauen.
Wenn von denn Flugzeugträgern in diesem Zusammenhange abgesehen wird, bestehen folgende Gegebenheiten:

A. Vorliegende Gegebenheiten.
1)Als schwere armierung kommt nur der 38cm doppelturm in frage. Die gründe sind bekannt,
2)Als maschinenanlage kommt in erster linie die anlage des schlachtschiffe “O” in betracht.
Gründe: Die maschinenanlage “BIsmarck” war für den damaligen stand der technischen entwicklung eine sehr gute Lösung, entspricht aber nitcht mehr den heutigen Erkenntnissen und müßte neu entworfen und konstruiert werden. Außerdem ist eine reine Dampfanlage für langfristige Atlantikverwendung nicht geeignet. Entscheidend ist aber, daß die “Bismarck”-Antriebsanlage 27 m breitist, während die motorenantriebsanlage des schlachtschiffe “O” nur 21 m Breite erfordert. Die Konstruktions arbeiten der Maschinenanlage des schlachtschiffe “O” lassen sich auch bei einer Vergröße ung des Schiffes ausnutzen.
3) Folgende Hellinge bezw Baudocks können unter Berücksichtigung inhrer Größen ausgenutzt werden: (*)Main dockyards and its size for construction.
- K.M.Wilhelmshaven: 1 Helling, breite nicht über 36 m, Länge etwa nur 245 m.
- Deschimag: 1 Helling und 1 Baudock Tiefgangsbeschränkung nur durch das Fahrwasser der Weser.
- Howaldtswerke, Hamburg: 1 Helling, breite nitch über 30 m.
- K.M. Werft Kiel: 1 Helling, breite nicht über 30 m.
- D.W.K Kiel: 1 Helling. Breite nicht über 30 m.

B. Mölichkeiten.
1) Um unter Berücksichtigung dieser technischen Gegebenheiten an die entwurfsarbeiten eines schiffes herangehen zu können, muß, wie von K immer wieder betont, vom operativen Zweck ausgegangen werden. K darf sich in diesem Zusammenhang auf das Wort von Tirpitz bezishen: “Man müß zuneächst en strategischen Zwack eines schiffes bestimmen, bevor man an seinen bau herangeht”.
Bisher hatte skl die absicht, das schlachtschiff “O” als handelszerstörer einzusetzen. Dem trägt der genehmigte und durchkonstruierte entwurf rechnnung, der im weiteren als “O39” bezeichnent wird.

Da skl bisher an dem entwurf seine größe im hinblick auf seine aufgabe beanstandete, ist mit K stb 140/42 G.kos. mitgeteilt worden, daß eine verkleinerung des schiffes auf etwa 26000 tons typverdrängung bei verzicht auf den ritten schweren turm möglich sei. Der entwurf wird als Typ “O40” bezeichnet. (*)O-40 is a heavy raider design based on O-39 with reduced size, armed with two twin 38cm/52 at 26000 tons, a criticism in respond of O-39 flawes have).

Das kleinste schiff mit drei schweren türmen bleibt jedoch der Typ “O-39”, der typ läßt sich erheblich verbessern, wenn statt der getrennten 15cm seeziel=und 10.5cm flakdoppeltürme 7 - 12.7cm einheitsseeziel= und flakdoppeltürme eingebaut werden. (*)seeziel roughly translated as "anti-sea target" i.e anti-surface/ship, so the meaning here is the improved design can ditch mixed 15cm batteries and 10.5cm in favor of universal 12.7cm flak turrets. This proposal has been discussed for other German capital ships).

Da an diesem typ nach ansicht von K aber nicht die gröbe, sondern der panzerschutz zu beanstanden ist, ist mit k stb nr. 140/42 G.kdos, ein vorschlag zur verstärkung des panzers gemacht worden, der allerdings die breite auf über 30 m steigert , so daß nur die Baumöglichkeiten in Wilhelmshaven und Bremem ausgenutzt werden können. Dieser typ wird als “O 41” bezeichnet.

Nachdem jedoch in der aussprachr zwischen skl qu A und K am 26.5 sich ergeben hat, daß skl eine änderung der verwendungsabsichten des geforderten kleinen schlactschiffes ins Auge faßt und statt eines handelszerstörers ein kampschiff fordert, werden die angaben über schiff für derartige aufgaben übermittelt.
Der typ ist als “O42” bezeichnet, und es ergibtsich, daß das schiff nur wenig kleinerist als schlachtschiffe “H”, daf=ür aber schneller. Es ist aber auf keiner der verfügbaren Hellinge gemäß ziffer 3) zu bauen mit ausnahme der Deschimag. Die inzwischen weiter geförderten untersuchungen von K lassen es wahrscheinlich erscheinen, schiffe der größe “H41” unter bastimmten bedingungen weserabwärts bringen zu können, so daß also bei der Deschimag der bau von schlachtschiffen Typ “H” in frage käme. (*) "O-42" is scaled down of H-class type battleship, armed with 8x38cm /52 but faster, the latter part is roughly said the current shipyard (Deschimag) that can build O42 is occupied by one of the H hull, the solutions was to move her incomplete keels down to A.G Weser shipyard? for O42 keel to be laid down.

Dieser typ ist als “PI” bezeichnet. Ferner ist ein entwurf unter denselben Bedingungen, aber mit vier schweren doppeltürmen geprüft (“PII”). Als maschinenanlage sind nur motoren vorgesehen. Die angegebene anordnung der motoren ist nur eine der möglichen Lösungen.
Die kürze der zitadelle gestattet keine sachgemäße unterbringung von flugzeugen mehr, auf sie ist daher verzichtet. Diese einschränkung wird als unwesentlich beurteilt, da in zukunft schlachtschiffe stets in begleitung von flugzeugträgern operieren werden und die bordflugzeuge neben den trägerflugzeugen doch nicht vollwertig sind.Außer der unzureichenden Geschwindigkeit liegt ein wesentlicher mangel des typs in der auf 30 m begrenzten breite und dem dadurch bedingten, für ein schlachtschiff im bereich der schweren ungenügenden torpedoschoffabstand. Im ganzen hält K den bau derartiger schiffe nicht für vertretbar, wenn auch zuzugeben ist. daß in taktischer hinsicht die geschwindigkeit voh untergeogrneter bedeutung ist. (*)(new designs, compact, full diesel powered albeit slow at 27.5 knots, they were the first raiders to fully use universal 12.7cm flaks as built, such hull has to remove hangar, aircraft and torpedo armaments in return they have very good armor protection).

In der anlage werden beigefügt:
Eine gräting mit den vergleichszahlen der typen “O 39” und “O40, 41, 42“, ”P I und PII“.
eine typskizze O39
ein hauptspant O39
ein hauptspant O41
ein typbild O42
ein hauptspant O42
ein typbild PI
ein typbild PII
ein hauptspant PI/PII.
Im entwurf gez. fuchs.
Für die Richtigkeit:
 
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I have found these blueprints on the disc you have on first page. I thought that this is H-40 B but the length isn´t right and superstructure is same as on H-39.
Left one is steam turbine powered design and right side is H-39/42, bigger than H-39 (close to H-41 size) and have more AA batteries, there's one preliminary H-39 with 16x15cm guns (only data) in RM-6.

H-39/42? Is H-39 design redesigned in 1942? If I know correctly isn't construction of battleship 'H' already halted then?
 
A mistake on my part here, H-39/42 doesn't have more AA batteries, its identical finalized H-39, the hull is just bigger and longer, halted doesn't stop you from improving design though (H-42,43 and 44 say hi!), H-39/42 from my guessing is compromise between H-39 and 41, justify its massive size and weight and 42cm/48 if not make in time then 40cm/52 'll be used instead.

Here's dimensions compare with H-39 and H-39/42.
-Length: 266 m vs 282 m (at waterline only).
-Draft: 10 m vs 12 m
-Beam: 37m vs 40.5 m
H-39/42 have full load displacement at 79000 tons (slightly more than H-41), machinery same as H-39 (12xMAN diesels, 3 shafts), same horsepower just slower than 2 knots (28 knots vs 30 knots)
 
A mistake on my part here, H-39/42 doesn't have more AA batteries, its identical finalized H-39, the hull is just bigger and longer, halted doesn't stop you from improving design though (H-42,43 and 44 say hi!), H-39/42 from my guessing is compromise between H-39 and 41, justify its massive size and weight and 42cm/48 if not make in time then 40cm/52 'll be used instead.

Here's dimensions compare with H-39 and H-39/42.
-Length: 266 m vs 282 m (at waterline only).
-Draft: 10 m vs 12 m
-Beam: 37m vs 40.5 m
H-39/42 have full load displacement at 79000 tons (slightly more than H-41), machinery same as H-39 (12xMAN diesels, 3 shafts), same horsepower just slower than 2 knots (28 knots vs 30 knots)
Weird that they would cut down on H-39 only to increase its size again.
 
I have found these blueprints on the disc you have on first page. I thought that this is H-40 B but the length isn´t right and superstructure is same as on H-39.
Left one is steam turbine powered design and right side is H-39/42, bigger than H-39 (close to H-41 size), there's one preliminary H-39 with 16x15cm guns (only data) in RM-6.
Do you think this?
 

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I have found these blueprints on the disc you have on first page. I thought that this is H-40 B but the length isn´t right and superstructure is same as on H-39.
Left one is steam turbine powered design and right side is H-39/42, bigger than H-39 (close to H-41 size), there's one preliminary H-39 with 16x15cm guns (only data) in RM-6.
Do you think this?
That's gotta be fake. I don't think they mixed 12.8cm and 15cm even in their wildest designs.

There is 1 H-class design with x16 15cm guns though.
 
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Its author site OC, he making some alternative history navies years ago.
 
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Yes the Lutjens is from the late CanisD's what-if website. It is a fictional what-if.
 
Oh, I've seen some of his work before, though at the time I did not know.

I've found some interesting pics:
3x3 38cm Bismarck
file.php

Prinz Eugen (Raider - 11"?)
file.php

Mackensen CV 1920
file.php

Mackensen 1942
iu


If anyone can find more, I'd appreciate it.
 
Were there any other projects of battleships than H-class?
Battleships not much to my knowledge, capital ships (Battlecruisers, Large Big Gun Cruisers) yes:
KW-35 -45 -50
O-39 -40 -41 -42
P (Original, Variant I and II)
 
Development of German large capital ships under KM control are pretty straightforward as far i know, they do have a couple of preliminaries work alongside with their battleships and battlecruisers.
- Panzerschiff D and E originally to be improved Graf Spee at 18k tons, growing to 22k and finally 26k tons, the choices of armaments from 28cm, 30cm, 33cm and 35cm in twins, triple or even quad turrets (the latter were picked in responds against Dunkerque-class until 38cm was made), armor protection changed overtime, from 100mm to 150mm to significant increase 220mm to 320mm (against French 33cm/50 guns).
- Bismarck preliminaries is harder to get, because they're obscure or vaguely described in some sources, one preliminary work based on Scharnhorst hull at 30k, 35k tons armed with 8x33cm or 35.5cm guns with improved secondaries (12x15cm, 12x10.5cm flaks), become basis for Bismarck-class.
 
Were there ever blueprints found for the other O klasse, or just 39?
I'll have to look again, but I believe I only have the most complete version of O (that I am aware of). There are some armor pictures of O floating around which don't correlate - maybe because it's an earlier armor scheme or it may just be incorrect. I've forgotten that conversation a bit.
 
Speaking of O, here's text about O-class proposed re-armament of the new 28.3cm from RM 20/1913, dated around July 1939 and am planning to do another write-up soon.
Barbettendurchmesser.
über eine frage konnte keine einheitliche auffassung im OKM erzielt werden. die 38cm erfordern einen barbettendurchmesser von 10m. falls eine spätere umarmierung auf 3x28cm drillingstürme in frage kommt, müßten die barbetten einen durchmesser von 10,40 m erhalten bei gleichzeitiger berücksichtigung des flatzbedarfs eines modernen 28 geschützes. es tritt dadurch ein mehrgewicht von etwa 32 t ein. A und K halten einen derartigen aufwand für diesen zweck nicht für vertretbar. M wa empfiehlt es, um sich keine möglichkeit für die zukunft zu verbauen.
Short version: new triple 28.3 cm guns weight heavier and need bigger barbatte than old 28.3cm and 38cm diameter, am thinking this related the "P" turret i posted while ago.
Edit: ah its matched!
 
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Is there any proof that shows the difference between the P Klasse and the Handelszestorers?
 
He mean those "trade destroyer" after P-class, anyway they're not much different, other than stronger engines for longer range, armaments are the same as P, 15cm in triple instead twin, speed at modest this time (31-33 knots depending on designs), they also came with 38cm guns variants which already done on preliminaries P and O derivatives (i.e O40).
 
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I do not know about these designs. I thought P-O and the KW designs were the last cruisers of the Kriegsmatine
 
Is there any proof that shows the difference between the P Klasse and the Handelszestorers?
Here are two variants of the Panzerschiff P project (1938 and 1939) and the "Handelzerstorer" variants following them
kreuzer_p_entw_av49j1x.jpg


kreuzer_p_entw_1939jfkt8.jpg


handelszerstrer_entw_lak4s.jpg


handelszerstrer_entw_yzkww.jpg
 
The P-class preliminaries and probably proto-O, they're in RM/7 - "Organisation der Kriegsmarine - Kriegsschiffbauten", you can also find documents from other ships, plan Z programs (even estimate plan Z to 1948), various booklogs about other warships type, captured French navy documents and other nations, new fleet programs in 1943-1944 etc, Siegfried Breyer cited (not digitalized btw).
 
I do not know about these designs. I thought P-O and the KW designs were the last cruisers of the Kriegsmatine
Handelzerstorer designs are just P follow-ons at a significantly lower priority. May 1939 was the P "rage quit" as the design wasn't working out at the time (due to an issue with the armor scheme), so they dropped it - only to pick it back up again to mess around with the idea, so to speak.
 

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