KM Ostereich (BC-1938)


 

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A further drawing for this series could have used the turrets removed from the Konig class in rebuilding them to raiders, to provide the armament for another pair of battlecruisers. To my mind these would be the most likely if for no other reason than they would take eighteen months shorter to build and still be more than a match for any Allied cruiser they might meet out on the trade routes with their older, refurbished 12" guns. Utilising the older refurbished 12" turrets took the pressure off the Germanic States armouries producing large bore weapons that had had orders placed for sixteen twin turrets and thirty-two 16.5" guns for the Scharnhorst Class battleships. One of the class was renamed from a German Admirals name to Ostereich to give the Austrians a feeling of unity with the rest of the Germanic States after the Anschluss.



In 1939 one of the first refits included radar for gunnery controller assistance for the 12". More and more electronic aids were added right through the lifetimes of these ships until virtually every size of gun had some electronic assistance with pointing and shooting in the right direction as accurately as possible.



 

Displacement 26,500 tons std, 34,800 full load
Length 737 ft
Breadth 92 ft
Draught 29.5 ft
Machinery 2 shaft Steam Turbines and diesels, 130,000shp
Speed 31 knots
Range 18,000 miles at 18 knots
Armour 10" belt, 5.1" deck, 12" turrets
Armament 8 x 12" (4x2)
20 x 88mm/L56 (10x2)
24 x 37mm Bofors (12x2)
50 x 20mm (10x4 10x1) this is with refits to 1942.
Aircraft 2
Complement 1450
Notes Admiral von Roon (1938)

Ostereich (1938)


 

 

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