NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Karlsruhe 1932  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Königsberg		108	KMW Wilhelmshaven	12.4.1926	26.3.1927	17.4.1929	sunk 10.4.1940
Karlsruhe		207	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	27.7.1926	20.8.1927	6.11.1929	sunk 9.4.1940
Köln		116	KMW Wilhelmshaven	7.8.1926	23.5.1928	15.1.1930	sunk 30.3.1945

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	6000
Displacement full, t	7700
Length, m	169.0 wl 174.0 oa
Breadth, m	15.2
Draught, m	5.56 normal 6.28 max
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Königsberg: CODAS: 2 sets Schichau geared steam turbines, 6 Marine boilers / 2 MAN 4-stroke 10-cylinder double action diesels Karlsruhe: CODAS: 2 sets Germania geared steam turbines, 6 Marine boilers / 2 MAN 4-stroke 10-cylinder double action diesels Köln: CODAS: 2 sets Blohm & Voss geared steam turbines, 6 Marine boilers / 2 MAN 4-stroke 10-cylinder double action diesels
Power, h. p.	65000 / 1800
Max speed, kts	32 / 10
Fuel, t	oil 1145, diesel oil 261
Endurance, nm(kts)	7300(17)
Armour, mm	belt: 65 - 50, bulkheads: 70, deck: 40 - 20, anti-torpedo bulkhead: 15, turrets: 30 - 20, CT: 100 - 30
Armament	Königsberg: 3 x 3 - 149/57 SK C/25, 4 x 3 - 500 TT, 120 mines Karlsruhe: 3 x 3 - 149/57 SK C/25, 2 x 1 - 88/45 SK C/13, 4 x 3 - 500 TT, 120 mines Köln: 3 x 3 - 149/57 SK C/25, 4 x 1 - 88/45 SK C/13, 4 x 3 - 500 TT, 120 mines
Complement	850

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Working out of design of cruiser within limits of Versailles Treaty limitations has begun in 1924. At the limited displacement the basic thrust became on armament and speed. As result cruisers differed by very light construction: all-welded hulls have been lightweighted to a limit, and longitudinal strength calculation joined even superstructures. At the same time, the L/B ratio exceeded 11:1, that aggravated problems with durability. As a result they had poor seaworthiness. Cruisers were armed with new 150mm/60 guns C/25 (weight of a shell of 45.5kg, a firing range of 25.7km). From three triple turrets two took places aft shifted from centreline ("B" turret to port, "C" to starboard) for providing of the maximum fwd arcs of fire. Side was covered by 50mm belt beginning before fore and ending after aft turrets. 10mm slope, connecting with its lower edge, became 15mm internal anti-torpedo bulkhead. Belt was closed at ends by 70mm transverse bulkheads, and by flat 20mm armoured deck at upper edge. Turret faces had 30mm armour, roofs, rears and sides had 20mm protection.

"K" class cruisers were first-ever combat ships with combined diesel-turbine machinery. Each of two shafts could be driven by turbine unit or MAN diesel. The latter ensured 10kts speed, and when turbines worked, diesels were disconnected with shafts. Steam was produced by 6 Schultz-Thornycroft boilers (4 big and 2 small). As a whole machinery has appeared not too successful, besides, it held more than half of hull length that was negatively reflected in damage tolerance.

Königsberg was laid down as "cruiser B" or "Ersatz Thetis", Karlsruhe as "C" ("Ersatz Medusa") and Köln as "D" or "Ersatz Arcona". They were equipped with catapults and could carry 2 seaplanes, but had no hangars.

In late 1930s plans have appeared of modernization of "K" class cruisers, durability directed on raise. Really in 1938-1939 works were conducted only on Karlsruhe, seriously damaged by typhoon on Pacific. Along all side the additional plating was made, which has increased breadth on 1.6m. Armoured belt thus has appeared internal, outside above it cruiser received 14mm outer upper belt, the upper deck received 16mm protection. Displacement has increased approximately on 700t, speed has fallen on 2kts.

Ship protection

50mm belt extended between end turrets and closed by 70mm bulkheads fwd from fore and aft from aft turrets. This belt was connected with 15mm anti-torpedo longitudinal bulkhead by 10mm slope. 20mm flat main deck was connected with upper edge of the belt, its thickness increased to 40mm over magazines. Turrets had 30mm faces and 20mm sides, rears and roofs. Shell hoists had 30mm armor. CT had 100-50mm sides and 30mm roof. There was 20mm fore bulkhead.

Modernizations

Summer 1929, Königsberg: + 2 x 2 - 88/72 SK C/25

late 1929, Königsberg: - 2 x 2 - 88/72; + 2 x 1 - 88/45 SK C/13

1934, Königsberg, Karlsruhe: - 4 x 3 - 500 TT; + 1 x 1 - 88/45 SK C/13, 4 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30, 4 x 1 - 20/65 C/30, 4 x 3 - 533 TT

1934, Köln: - 1 x 1 - 88/45, 4 x 3 - 500 TT; + 4 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30, 4 x 1 - 20/65 C/30, 4 x 3 - 533 TT

12/1934 - late 1935, all: - 3 x 1 - 88/45; + 3 x 2 - 88/72 SK C/32, 1 catapult, 2 seaplanes (He 60)

Spring 1938, Köln: - 1 catapult with seaplanes

(8/1938 - 11.1939), Karlsruhe: hull was strengthened by additional plating, original outer belt became inner ones, additional upper outer belt had 14mm thickness, upper deck received 16mm protection. Breadth was increased to 16.8m, displacement to 6730 / 8350t, maximal speed felt to 30kts, endurance to 3340(18)nm.

late 1940, Köln: - 2 x 3 - 533 TT

1941, Köln: + flight deck for Fl 265 gyroplane, FuMO 21 radar

late 1942, Köln: - 2 x 2 - 37/80, 4 x 1 - 20/65, flight deck; + 2 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, 2 x 1 - 20/65 C/38

1944, Köln: presumably + FuMO 25 radar, FuMB 4 Sumatra, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suites

Naval service

All actively operated at coast of Spain in 1936-1938. Königsberg 9.4.1940 was damaged by Norwegian coastal batteries and 10.4.1940 sunk by British Skua carrier diving bombers at Bergen. Karlsruhe 9.4.1940 was torpedoed by British submarine Truant off southern coast of Norway and sunk by torpedo from torpedo boat Greif some hours later. Köln 13.12.1944 was damaged by British Beaufighter bombers at Oslo, 30.4.1945 she was destroyed in dock during raid of US aircraft to Kiel by B-24 bombers.