KM Baldr (DD-1917)
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The B97-V101 type destroyers were big and used as leaders in the destroyer
squadrons (normally as half leader, the leader generally being in a light
cruiser). Two were retained, the other five survivors going to the Allied War
Reparations committee that dispersed the surrendered Germanic States ships among
the Allies, then selling the remainder to cash buyers. One was sunk in the Gulf
of Riga during WW1, in action against Russian destroyers.
These two ships, retained, were used as destroyer leaders to the flotillas to
screen the Capital ships of the Baltic Fleet during there time acting as the
blockade Squadron to keep the Soviet Fleet bottled up in Leningrad. In the
1920's the ships dropped there previous 'number' designations and became the
Baldr and Dellingr.
The differences between the two half classes of B and V built vessels is fairly
obvious, enlarged bridge superstructure, different armament layout. The enlarged
bridge allowed for gunnery control equipment of the 4.1". The seakeeping
qualities of the class was horrible, the torpedo tubes and 4.1" forward
adversely affected seakeeping with too much weight too far forward. The first
post war refits in the mid 1920's removed the torpedoes forward, plated in the
area from the bridge forward and resited the 4.1" aft nearer the bridge.
Usually for the old destroyers - escort destroyers, a minimum of work is done to
upgrade the units to a functional purpose and no more. The two V99 class ships
had various refits of large sizes that completely transformed them from stem to
stern. New Bridge structures, removing boilers and putting the areas to fuel
stowage meant a new funnel arrangement, a new armament of 5" DP guns were fitted
with another new arrangement. The 5" guns were those removed from the Admiral
Hipper Class when they were rebuilt with twin turrets. Those new guns required a
new DP gunnery director on the bridge which was enlarged to take it. All of the
old 19.7" torpedo tubes were removed and replaced with one triple set of modern
21" torpedoes.
Displacement |
1350 tons standard, 1850 tons full load |
|
Length, m |
324 feet |
|
Breadth, m |
32 feet |
|
Draught, m |
14 feet |
|
Machinery |
2 shaft, AEG-Vulcan steam turbines, 4 Marine boilers, 40,000shp |
28,000shp after 1938 refit |
Max speed, |
36.5 knots |
32 knots |
Fuel, t |
oil 519 tons |
1000 tons |
Endurance |
2250 miles at (20 knots) |
4,500 miles at 20 knots |
Armament |
4 x 1
- 88/42 TK L/45 C/14, (8), 4.1" from 1917 |
4 x 5" DP (4x1) 2 x 37mm Bofors (1x2) 4 x 20mm (4x1) |
Torpedoes | 6 x 19.7" (2x2, 2x1) | 3 x 21" (1x3) |
Mines | 24 mines when fitted | rails removed |
Complement |
114 |
124 |
Notes | KM Baldr (ex-V100) KM Dellingr (ex-V99) |
From the picture it appears the forward torpedoes have already been removed,
hard to tell.
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