Spähkreuzer 1938
{{Short description|Planned class of German cruisers}}
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{{one source|date=June 2009}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=November 2016}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:SpahKruiser1940StbSideb2.blend.jpg |Ship image size=300px |Ship caption=Illustration of the Spähkreuzer 1939 design }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name= |Builders= |Operators={{navy|Nazi Germany|name=Kriegsmarine}} |Class before= M-class cruiser |Class after= |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range= |In service range= |In commission range= |Total ships building= |Total ships planned=6 |Total ships completed= |Total ships cancelled=6 |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption=(as designed) |Ship class= |Ship displacement= {{convert|5700|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} |Ship length={{convert|475|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|45|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draft={{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=2 × MAN 6-cylinder diesel engines |Ship speed= {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{convert|7000|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|17|kn}} |Ship complement=200 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*6 × {{convert|5.9|in|mm|abbr=on}} guns
|Ship armor=*Belt: {{convert|1|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
Spähkreuzer was the type name of a planned class of large destroyers or reconnaissance cruisers for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine.
Design
There were three main designs proposed for this ship class, the 1938 design, the 1939 design and the 1940 design. The 1940 design was slightly larger and heavier with a more powerful power plant to keep or exceed the 1938 design performance. Both main designs, along with a few design variations, planned the main artillery layout of six 5.9-inch guns in three double turrets: one positioned on the bow and the other two on the stern. This was to allow a more offensive retreat, as these vessels were designed to scout ahead of the Plan Z battle groups.
A design designated as 1939 introduced a seaplane carried in the midships area; the torpedo tubes were removed to facilitate this. The catapult was suggested to be mounted between the funnels of the design, however there never seemed to be line drawings, or blueprints that showed that.
Construction
The first 3 ships were ordered in February 1941, these were designated SP1, SP2, and SP3, and formally named Z40, Z41, and Z42. The order was placed for the Germania Shipyard in Kiel to build these vessels. In December 1941, 3 engines for SP4, SP5 and SP6 were ordered but not the ships.
SP1 was the only ship for which the keel was laid down and actual construction started. During an air raid in April 1942 the ship plans were destroyed and construction was halted. The metal was scrapped and used to build submarines and regular destroyers that were already further along in their build programs.
Citations
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{cite book
|last=Whitley
|first=M. J.
|title=German Cruisers of World War Two
|year=1987
|location=Annapolis
|publisher=Naval Institute Press
|isbn=978-0-87021-217-8
}}
{{WWII German ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spahkreuzer 1938}}