D-class cruiser (Germany)

D-class cruiser

CG rendering of the D-class cruiser design
Class overview
Builders	D: Reichsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven E: Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Operators	Reichsmarine
Preceded by	Deutschland class
Succeeded by	P class (planned)
Built	14 February – 5 July 1934
Planned	2
Completed	0
Cancelled	2
General characteristics
Type	Heavy cruiser
Displacement	20,000 long tons (20,000 t)
Length	230 m (754 ft 7 in) overall 225 meters (738 ft 2 in) waterline
Beam	25.5 m (83 ft 8 in)
Draft	8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Installed power	125,000 PS (123,000 shp)
Propulsion	Steam turbines
Speed	29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Armament	6 × 28 cm (11 in)/52 SK C/28 guns (2 × 3) 8 × 15 cm (5.9 in)/55 SK C/28 guns (4 × 2) 8 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in)/65 SK C/33 AA guns (4 × 2)
Armor	Belt: 220 mm (8.7 in) Upper deck: 35 mm (1.4 in) Deck: 70 to 80 mm (2.8 to 3.1 in) Turrets:200 to 360 mm (7.9 to 14.2 in) Conning tower: 300 mm (12 in) Citadel: 50 mm (2 in)

The D-class cruisers were a pair of German heavy cruisers, classified as panzerschiffe ("armored ships") by the Reichsmarine (Navy of the Realm). The ships were improved versions of the preceding Deutschland-class cruisers, authorized by Adolf Hitler in 1933. They were intended to counter a new French naval construction program. Displacement increased to 20,000 long tons (20,000 t), but Hitler allowed only increases to armor, prohibiting additions to the ships' main battery armament. Both ships were laid down in February 1934, but not much work done before work was cancelled pending a significant revision of the design. It was determined that the ships should be enlarged to counter the new French Dunkerque-class battleship. The construction contracts for both ships were superseded by the Scharnhorst-class battleships.^[1]