The Klink class was the 6" version of the Larsen class AA
cruisers. The Senate wanted more 'General Purpose' cruisers. To
do this, eight of the Larsen class were reordered as the Klink
class. The switch to 6" meant going to triple turrets. It was
felt three triple 6" and two twin 4" could be fitted in the same
space as the five twin 5" turrets on the Larsen type. An extra
pair of twin 4" replaced the quad 40mm mountings beside the
after funnel. While these were well armed ships, they were also
overweight. The triple 6" and twin 4" weighed much more than the
five twin 5" turrets. Damage that would let in water to the
ships could easily cause them to capsize. Captains reports,
highlighted this problem, and offered solutions. Remove the
torpedoes, remove the two liferaft racks and move the small
covered boats there at a lower level. Remove the big boats
entirely. This allowed the twin 4" beside the aft funnel to be
lowered one deck, another way to help stability. Overall the
stability problems led to the ships early retirement with all
eight ships being removed from service and either sold or
scrapped by 1950.
The first pair completed in 1941, then another four in
1942, and the final pair in 1943. While not considered a failure
their short term of service spoke for itself. During the war the
ships fought well. Out on the trade routes, the class was
involved in sinking two German and one Japanese merchant
raiders. 1942 saw the end of the merchant raiders as better
communications and identification processes made disguising the
raiders much more see through. The extra small CVL type aircraft
carriers meant that hunting groups could be formed and would
make life short for raiders.
| Displacement | 7,250 tons standard, 9,300 tons full load |
| Length | 540 ft |
| Breadth | 55 ft |
| Draught | 16 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft, steam turbines, 80,000ihp |
| Speed | 33 knots |
| Range | 7,000 miles at 12 knots |
| Armour | 3" side, 2" deck |
| Armament | As completed 9 x 6" (3x3) 8 x 4" (4x2) 16 x 2pd AA (4x4) 8 x 20mm (8x1) |
| Torpedoes | 8 x 21" (2x4) |
| Complement | 470 |
| Notes | Colonel Klink Colonel Hogan Colonel Nikolas Colonel Crtitendon General Burkhalter Captain Newkirk Sergeant Schultz Major Hochstetter |
German Raider.
