German K class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Königsberg class was a class of light cruiser
s of the German
Reichsmarine
and Kriegsmarine
, consisting of three ships named after German cities: Königsberg
, Karlsruhe
, Köln
. It's also referred to as K class, as all three ships' names began with that letter.
. To stay within this limit, 85% of the ships' joints were welded instead of bolted. This led to problems, as the welding did not withstand the stress of long sea journeys as well as had been hoped. One unit had to interrupt a cruise to undergo significant repairs at San Diego. In addition, the ships suffered major stability problems which, along with the structural ones, led to their being confined to the home waters of the North Sea
and Baltic
during World War II and precluded their use as commerce raiders.
in World War II
- Karlsruhe after being torpedoed at Kristiansand
and Königsberg, bombed at Bergen
. Köln was used as a training ship for most of the war, before being bombed and sunk in the shallow water of Wilhelmshaven
harbor in March 1945. She remained in action, however, and shelled advancing Allied forces.
composed of the Leipzig and the Nürnberg which differed from them principally in terms of having only one funnel instead of two, and having the two aft turrets on the centerline, as well as somewhat different machinery (but retaining the dual propulsion concept). These ships suffered from the same defects of structural weakness and instability as the "K class", and were likewise confined to the Baltic and North Sea during World War II for these reasons.
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Reichsmarine
Reichsmarine
The Reichsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Weimar Republic and first two years of Nazi Germany. It was the naval branch of the Reichswehr, existing from 1918 to 1935...
and Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
, consisting of three ships named after German cities: Königsberg
German cruiser Königsberg
Königsberg was a light cruiser of the in the German Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Her sisterships were Köln and Karlsruhe.After a number of foreign visits in the 1930s, the ship operated along the Spanish coast from November 1936 to January 1937 during the Spanish Civil War...
, Karlsruhe
German cruiser Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe was a light cruiser of the German K class in World War II, the other ships in class being and . The K class were the first cruisers of the German navy to employ electric arc welding techniques and a newly designed triple gun turrets were installed...
, Köln
German cruiser Köln
Köln was a German light cruiser prior to and during World War II, one of three K-Class cruisers named after cities starting with the letter K. This ship was named after the city of Köln . The others in her class were the Königsberg and the Karlsruhe...
. It's also referred to as K class, as all three ships' names began with that letter.
History
The class was designed in the 1920s, adhering to the 6,000 ton limit for cruisers imposed on Germany by the Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
. To stay within this limit, 85% of the ships' joints were welded instead of bolted. This led to problems, as the welding did not withstand the stress of long sea journeys as well as had been hoped. One unit had to interrupt a cruise to undergo significant repairs at San Diego. In addition, the ships suffered major stability problems which, along with the structural ones, led to their being confined to the home waters of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
during World War II and precluded their use as commerce raiders.
Armament
The main battery was grouped in three triple-turrets, one forward and two aft. This unconventional placement was because the K class were designed as scouting cruisers with the intention that they would "hit and run." This allowed two thirds of their firepower to be directed astern at pursuing vessels. In order to increase firepower ahead, the aft turrets were not placed on the centerline of the ship. The aftermost turret was positioned on the starboard side, the middle turret was positioned on the port side of the ship. This allowed the middle turret to train further forward at targets to port, while the aftermost turret could train further forward at targets to starboard. This shrank the area in which only one turret would be available. The off-centre arrangement also assisted the engine-room layout.Propulsion
The ships had both steam turbine and diesel engines, the former to be used for high speed, the latter for fuel-economical cruising. The two power plants could not be used simultaneously.Ships
Königsberg and Karlsruhe were lost during the invasion of NorwayOperation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- Karlsruhe after being torpedoed at Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
and Königsberg, bombed at Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. Köln was used as a training ship for most of the war, before being bombed and sunk in the shallow water of Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
harbor in March 1945. She remained in action, however, and shelled advancing Allied forces.
Followup
The "K class" ships were followed by a modified two-ship classLeipzig class cruiser
The Leipzig class was a class of light cruisers of the German Kriegsmarine, consisting of two ships named after German cities, Leipzig and Nürnberg.-History:...
composed of the Leipzig and the Nürnberg which differed from them principally in terms of having only one funnel instead of two, and having the two aft turrets on the centerline, as well as somewhat different machinery (but retaining the dual propulsion concept). These ships suffered from the same defects of structural weakness and instability as the "K class", and were likewise confined to the Baltic and North Sea during World War II for these reasons.