British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations Pdf

FREE BRITISH AND GERMAN BATTLECRUISERS: THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS PDF

The German Empire was the second country after the British Empire to massively invest in battlecruisers. Neither the US, caught late by the war, France, which naval plan of was halted, Italy, which preferred to focus on dreadnoughts missed the race. Only Japan, closely related to the UK, considered the type enough to order the first two in UK the Kongo classthe remainder being built at home. For most authors she was a monocaliber armoured cruiser, quite a unique proposition at that time. The British were in also building near-monocaliber cruisers such as the Minotaur classmixing 9. Of course German engineers would British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations considerably the design to integrate standard heavy caliber the Right after the Dreadnought was launched in February, she has been British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations down at Armstrong Whitworth in April. Germany took notice only thanks to spying, having a clue of the monocaliber configuration. This immediately triggered an alarm for naval planners, more so as two other hulls has been laid down in February and March, at Fairfield and John Brown, for her sister-ships, Indomitable and Inflexible. Indeed plans had been carefully produced over more than a year, and the only way to have the ship upgraded with 28cm guns would have been to stretch the hull in length and width, essentially scaling it up to replace the 21 cm by 28 cm guns. On paper it seemed simple, but it posed in reality quantities of problems which would have delayed her construction for more than a year and a half. Needless to say, having a sufficient powerplant one one of these. She was ordered as part of the FY naval program, s now in full knowledge of the new British BCs. More than that, the Schlachtkreuzer litt. From the start, the Kaiserliches Marine strategy was to compensate its inferiority in numbers by the quality of its ships. That was not well known in UK at that time, but gradually this reality started to sweep through during the first naval clashes of the war -during which battlecruisers from both sides were most often committed- until the revelation at Jutland see below. For stability, the Von de Tann was fitted with Frahm anti-rolling tanks filled with extra coals, lowering the GM at 6. To these were added bilge keels. This configuration allowed to fire six guns in chase and retreat, and all in broadside, through at only some angles as the blast of the opposite turret could cause damage to the funnels and superstructure when firing over the deck. At all times, the safe standard was six also. Secondary armament comprised a set of dependable 15 cm guns 6-in whereas the British Invincible and Indefatigable had far weaker but faster firing, and more 4-in mm guns. They adopted But by then, axial fire maximize their effects, and this solution was chosen for the LionPrincess Royal, and later the Queen British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations. It seems British engineers took notice of the larger caliber and upgraded the level of protection accordingly. It was 9-in mm in sensitive places and up to British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations again for the conning tower, with also thicker armour in bulkheads and barbettes. They were built at the same time as the first class of German battlecruisers, the Molkte and Goeben. They were planned in as an upgrade of the Von der Tann, larger British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations accommodate an extra turret aft. They came better armed than the Lion class, though with much small caliber guns. Protection was still impressive, going as far as mm for the belt. It was roughly the same in values as the Lion class elsewhere although protection was more intensive and covered more areas. They were also smaller than the Lion class, and slower, at 25 knots versus Goeben would never had the chance to compete with British ships as she was passed under Turkish control soon into the war. But she became overnight the greatest threat for the Russian black sea fleet, and later the allied forces in the Aegean sea. Goeben Yavuz proved particularly resilient to mines, being hit two times in and three times in and surviving. All wanted answers, and an enquiry. Bacon explains in the book of the same name, that shells and shell propellant British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations dangerously British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations, waiting in line to be loaded and fired. Any flash fires could obliterate the whole stock. In principle, Flash doors existed to prevent this, but training practice to gain faster reload times had them left open during the battle. This was confirmed recently as a ship found a wreck and explored it, showing these flash doors were indeed left open. Also even in the case they would be shut, the heat produced had the cordite in the turret likely ignited. The report from the Gunnery Committee initiated anyway vigorous safety changes in the navy. This was not enough for the Hood though, which mighty explosion cause never had been elucidated well, ans these skills were well integrated into German battlecruisers in SMS Seydlitz in action at Jutland. All this had nothing to do with some secret brillant technology from the Germans, either super shells, higher velocity or superior accuracy. Both fleets were heavenly match and other factors explained the discrepancy of losses on both sides. It was considered undesirable to draw attention to this publicly while the war was in progress. Jellicoe again stated that German ships carried a greater weight of armour, in all positions, including deck protection. A detailed examination of armour schemes by Historian John Roberts went in this sense as well. The SMS Seydlitz was saved in extremis from a near-detonation of a magazine, after being hit in the turret by the latter, when the shell propellant was ignited, starting a wild fire. Only activating a valve and flooding the magazines saved the ship. A lesson from Dogger Bank which was well learnt by German staff and crew. This probably resorted to doctrine changes towards flash protection and proper handling of propellant charges throughout the Kaiserliches Marine. Moreover, distances showed the Lion was penetrated from farther away. Therefore the flash problem due to a fast-firing doctrine emphasis was only British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations consequence of armour discrepancies compared to German battlecruisers, which British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations also hit quite many times during the battle of Jutland. It could be also said that the Royal Navy traded perhaps ships quality to numbers, to ensure clear superiority over the Kaiserliches Marine, whereas the latter produced unquestionably less battlecruisers, but of overall better quality. The particulars of quality over quantity present in German battlecruisers were also true for aviation at this time, and were still true for tanks in WW2, with perhaps a tendency for over-engineering. The shell question Jellicoe also raised another detail, more in line with German armament industry than doctrine or construction: He attributed the better efficience of the German hits to delay-action fuses used, combined with harder armor-piercing caps. A deadly combination which ensured an explosion inside rather than outside the armor, whereas most British shell exploded by contact. Lyddite was used as it was easier and safer to store, but could only be compatible with contact explosions, not delayed fuses. Director of Naval Construction Eustace H. This could explain German resilience. Also the use of cordite caused a lot of dark and dense smoke, causing interference for British spotters. To this, the Cordite was found particularly unstable, as shown by tests conducted in by the USN, igniting at 53 cm from a flash source. Of course other factors which had nothing to do with German technology were at hand, like the respective positions of the battleline in heavy weather and poor visibility, with the British which happened to be silhouetted against a clear horizon. German battlecruisers then had a clear field of fire. This British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations little effect, if any, in the design of their last battlecruisers of the Mackensen class already ready inbut only underline the need for bigger guns, reported on the next Ersatz Yorck class. It is sad however that the Yavuz was never investigated properly by foreign engineers after she was sold for BU in the s. Additional valuable clues could have been gained about German battlecruiser design. Used to on the first German Dreadnoughts and the battlecruiser Von der Tann. These guns, which exact bore was They were manufactured with an A tube, with two layers of hoops and a jacket ad were fitted with the Krupp horizontal sliding wedge breech block. The gun weighted 87, lbs. Its rpm was 3 rounds per minute on average. Muzzle velocity was around 2, fps mps. Used on the next generation German battlecruisers of the Moltke British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations Seydlitz Classes. Amazing barrel life as Yavuz still fired in exercises in the s. For the first time, the mountings used electric pumps for elevation and the training was all electric. The charges were more powerful and range way better. Also used in coastal artillery in WW2. Made from an A tube with two British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations of hoops and a jacket, Krupp horizontal sliding wedge breech block. The gun weight was 91, lbs. Muzzle velocity was greater, fps mps. The guns weightedlbs. Rate of fire was better at rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity was 2, fps mps and barrel life around rounds. It was even used in the first interwar German cruiser Emden equipped during WW2 famous merchant raiders and well as many coastal batteries of the Atlantic wall. Manufactured from an A tube and two layers of hoops with the horizontal sliding wedge breech block. Actual bore was This famous light caliber gun, used over time in many variants, anti-TB and anti-air, had a better muzzle velocity at each iteration, notably due to increased barrel length. It notably far more powerful than the standard allied 3-in 75 mm and was present in numbers in dreadnoughts as well as German battlecruisers. In the interwar it had the advantage of using the same same ammunition as the 8. The gun weight was 5, lbs. As the battle of Jutland took place in Maythe decisive moment for German battlecruisers during the war, as they scored three kills on their counterparts, showing that the inferior on paper 2. Safety measures were respected on board, marksmanship and optics precision made for more precise hits. She has been launched in August Much inspired by the Derfflinger class, she differed by several aspects: Longer, more powerful and faster, with improved mountings for better elevation, reworked tripod legs, reworked protection, two more secondary 15cm guns, rearranged boiler rooms. But the next class would. The Mackensen class was one step forward in artillery with 34 cm main guns, and full length forecastle. Design work has started in and was finalized in and the first two were laid down in January and Mayhowever shortages of materials and manpower delayed construction for two years. British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations | Naval Historical Foundation

In place of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron which had been detached to Scapa for gunnery practice, in May Beatty had the 5th Battle Squadron of four fast battleships to complement his six serviceable battlecruisers. The remainder of the Rosyth force consisted of twelve light cruisers in three squadrons, and three destroyer flotillas. However, only one-fifth of 28 dreadnought battleships were Clyde-built. Mounted with 15 inch guns, they served in the 5th Battle Squadron. Of the nine British battlecruisers at Jutland, four were Clyde-built. The Battle of Jutland began with an encounter off the Danish coast between the battlecruiser forces of Vice-Admiral Hipper and Vice-Admiral Beatty, during which the Germans rapidly gained the upper hand. Only quick- thinking action prevented an explosion in her magazine. During the battle she lost 99 dead and 51 wounded. Inadequate flash protection of the magazines and the way that ammunition was handled in order to maximise the rate of fire, contributed to the loss of three battlecruisers at Jutland, as did their weaker armour. The British predicament was eased by the belated arrival of the battleships of 5th Battle Squadron. A few salvoes were enough to cause her to explode, capsize and rapidly sink, taking with her 1, officers and men. During this phase of the battle Beatty deployed his destroyers, which clashed with German torpedo boats. Beatty's battleships were late in turning away and lucky to escape with non-critical damage, but they continued British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations strike the chasing German battleships as they raced north. She lost 1, officers and men. Despite this disaster and the poor visibility, Jellicoe handled his overwhelming force of battleships brilliantly. The German dreadnoughts came off worse, and turned away again to the west. As night fell, Jellicoe tried to cut Scheer off from his home ports, but intermittent skirmishes and sightings through the night did not lead to the hoped-for final contact. The German dead amounted to 2, but British losses were 6, of whom more than half died on the three battlecruisers that were sunk. The battle affected some communities as badly as the worst land battles of the war. In peacetime most were fishermen and all were seamen in the Royal Naval Reserve who were called up in to man the warships. All but two were married, and they left 13 widows and 33 fatherless children. The loss of 15 sailors on a single day compares with the 38 others from the town who were lost at sea at other times during the war. The 6, British deaths at Jutland can be compared to overall British losses of 44, during the war at sea. Copyright, North of Scotland Newspapers. After their return to base crews were granted leave, while the many wounded were taken to the naval British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations at South Queensferry, and also to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh where on 16 June the King spoke to all the hundred or so wounded men reported to be receiving treatment. Having survived the battle, on 1 July Leading Stoker James Quinn was involved in a motor bus accident, contracted gangrene and died four days later in hospital at South Queensferry. The twenty six year-old from Dundee was buried at Dalmeny nearby. These sister ships, each armed with six 15 inch guns went into active service in August and September British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations. The Royal Navy suffered the humiliating loss of fourteen ships, including three of its vaunted battlecruisers, to effective German gunnery. British shells were less effective because they mostly exploded on impact rather than penetrating armour plate. Nevertheless the damage done to the German High Seas Fleet was very considerable. After Jutland Germany made the most of its lighter losses of men and ships, while in Britain the Navy was criticised by many British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations its apparent failures. The strategic value of the Battle of Jutland became apparent: the Royal Navy achieved its aim of containing the German naval threat, and deterred German warships from all but minor actions in the North British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations. The Navy also overcame the new threat from German submarines against Atlantic supply lines. Both these achievements contributed hugely to the Allied victory in Skip to main content. Battle of Jutland Printer-friendly version. British Battlecruiser vs German Battlecruiser - Osprey Publishing

Uh-oh, it looks like your Internet Explorer is out of date. For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now. Javascript is not British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations in your browser. Enabling JavaScript in your browser will allow you to experience all the features of our site. Learn how to enable JavaScript on your browser. Home 1 Books 2. Add to Wishlist. Overview The authors of British and German Battlecruisers have detailed the fast and formidably-armed battlecruisers developed before and during World War I in a way that has never been attempted before. They begin by looking at the relationship and rivalry between Great Britain and Germany and how foreign policy, strategic and tactical considerations, economic, industrial and technological developments, as well as naval policies led to the commencement of the battlecruiser programs in both countries. Chapters are then devoted to the development of the ships in each country, to design and construction, protection, propulsion plants, weapons, fire control, and communication systems. Particular focus is paid to the innovative aspects of the designs and their strengths and weaknesses. These ships eventually clashed in the North Sea at Dogger Bank, in Januaryand while neither side suffered losses, the differences in their design and handling were apparent. These differences would be starkly highlighted a year later at Jutland when three British ships were destroyed. This is a major new British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations for naval enthusiasts everywhere. Product Details About the Author. He has written extensively on naval policy and technical issues. Ruggero Stanglini contributes to Italian defense magazines and he has written several books on naval affairs. Related Searches. These campaigns have been branded by various historians as unnecessary sideshows to the conflict waged on View Product. Battleships of the Scharnhorst Class: The Scharnhorst and. The warships of the World War II German Navy are among the most popular subjects in British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations history, and one of the best collections is the concise but authoritative six volume series written by Gerhard Koop and illustrated by Klaus-Peter With all the immediacy of an eyewitness account, Anthony Pitch tells the dramatic story of With all the immediacy of an eyewitness account, Anthony Pitch tells the dramatic story of the British invasion of Washington in the summer ofan episode many call a defining moment in the coming-of-age of the United States. China's shipbuilding industry has grown more rapidly than any other in modern history. Commercial shipbuilding Commercial shipbuilding output jumped thirteen-fold fromensuring that Beijing has largely reached its goal of becoming the world's leading shipbuilder. Yet progress is uneven, with military With Cutler Dawson at the helm for the last fourteen years, Navy Federal Credit Union, the world's largest credit union, has quadrupled the size of the organization and made it an industry leader in customer service. It is now one Two years before the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki helped bring a quick end Two years before the atomic British and German Battlecruisers: Their Development and Operations on Hiroshima and Nagasaki helped bring a quick end to hostilities in the summer ofU. InU. Army Special This memoir of a CIA operations officer captures the spirit of the early years of This memoir of a CIA operations officer captures the spirit of the early years of the Agency, a period sometimes described as its finest hours. Using the name St. Naval Institute Press.