The Admiral Schroder class cruisers were an extension of the current light cruiser type, armed with 5.9" guns, and upgraded to 6x8.2" on a hull of comparable size. The Von Brandenburg class was to extend the Schroder type by adding another twin 8.2" to give a main armament of 8x8.2". A better armament than any of the current Allied cruisers built or building. Two were laid down in 1917 just months after the four Schroders, but both were incomplete at wars end, November 1918. One was cancelled and scrapped, while the other received orders from the Allied War Commission to be proceeded with to keep the ship works staff in employment. Another two years of being slowly proceeded with saw the von Brandenburg being completed in December 1920. Just two years later the Washington Treaty selected the 10,000 ton 8" gun limit for new cruiser production from 1923. The von Brandenburg fell right within the new limits and was from then called 'Heavy Cruiser' (CA). Originally the von Brandenburg was to be turned over to the Allied War Reparations Commission on completion. Due to the failure of France and Britain to restore the Tsar or a parliamentary system of Government to Russia meant that the Germanic States Navy needed to be prepared to stop the possible Communist Navy of four battleships and four battlecruisers, other cruisers and destroyers from forcing its way out of the Baltic and exporting Communism to the World. The von Brandenburg would be one of those cruisers needed to act as scouts to keep an eye on the Communist Fleet in its Baltic ports at Leningrad.
Displacement: 9,800 tons normal, 12,850 tons full load
Dimensions: 557 x 62 x 24 feet
Machinery: 2 shaft, turbines, 70,000shp
Speed: 30 knots
Endurance: 12,000 nmi at 12 knots
Armour: 5.1" belt, 2.4" deck, 5.5"/3.4" turrets
Armament:
8 x 8.2" (210mm) (4x2)
6 x 88mm (6x1)
Torpedoes: 8 x 19.7" (500mm) (4x2)
Crew: 700
All during the 1920's and early 1930's the von Brandenburg carried out its patrol duties. It was the rise of the Nazi Party and the restraints being lifted off the navy that allowed the von Brandenburg to be put into the rebuilding plans for all of the then 15-20 year old ships that populated the Germanic States Navy. One of the major updates was to allow for better gunnery control for both the 8.2" and the new 5" dual purpose guns. Finally the ship could be freed from the filthy business of 'coal ship', as the Brandenburg was finally converted from coal to oil firing with the three funnels then being trunked into one.
Displacement: 10,200 tons normal, 13,450 tons full load
Dimensions: 557 x 62 x 24 feet
Machinery: 2 shaft, turbines, 70,000shp
Speed: 30 knots
Endurance: 12,000 nmi at 12 knots
Armour: 5.1" belt, 3.4" deck, 5.5"/3.4" turrets
Armament:
8 x 8.2" (210mm) (4x2)
12 x 5" (6x2)
12 x 37mm (6x2)
8 x 20mm (8x1)
Torpedoes: 4 x 19.7" (500mm) (2x2)
Crew: 730