KM Wiesbaden (CL-1923 (1937-mod))

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Two of the uncompleted Dresden II class cruisers were allowed to be completed during the years 1919-23. With the German Navy at reduced levels, the shipyard staff being decimated by layoffs and the the Flu epidemic the, while money to pay for the ships was doled out by the Government to the Admiralty soley to keep the shipyards in work. Which is why it took so long to complete these two ships. The ships were completed to the original design as to redesign and manufacture new parts was completely out of the question financialy.

Like the Frankfurts the Wiesbadens were part of the Baltic Patrol required by the Navy to fulfill part of their treaty obligations. Eventually they like the Frankfurts were slated for rebuilding. While the Frankfurts went to AA ships the Wiesbadens remained as light cruisers but with new twin 5.9" turrets as used originally on the Emden.

(The Dresden drawn by Ashley on WhyMe's original is exactly what I was looking for for this type so I have only redrawn the aft control tower.)

The change from single 5.9" (5 guns firing per broadside) to the 3 twin turrets increased the broadside by one gun while the turret mounted guns also were faster firing, so an all round increase in firepower. The secondary AA armament of four 4.1" single guns was considered adequate while the light AA armament of eight 37mm and four 20mm grew and grew throughout the war.

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