Kriegsmarine 1946, second approach

[Ashley]

The 1959s new destroyer-class Z-85. With a displacement 3500 tons smaller than its afterwar predecessors and much lesser armed but specialised for the ASW-role. Therefor she was eqipped with the new 'Dohle'-lightweight-torpedo, a 15" ASW-torpedo with a first stage rocket instead of the much heavier 'Geier'-torpedo. The 'Dohle'-torpedos are fired from a massive 12x-launcher amidships. Two 12,8cm twin-DPs on the foredeck and two 5,5cm twins on the hangar do the gunnery-jobs. A new 6x launcher for 'Taifun C'-SAMs on the hangar complete the armamanet of the ship. The big flight deck and hanger support four helicopters, each armed with two lightweight torpedos. Z-85 is fitted with a complex radar-equipment. She is able to coordinate aa-action with other ships. Further Z-85 is equipped with the big 'Lauscher'-forward-sonar.
Her prime mission is detection and tracking of subs at atlantic waters around the germanian empire. 32 ships are ordered of the first batch, they will replace the old 1936-class DDs.

[Ashley]

For comparision here is the 1936 class destroyer with afterwar refit. The guns are replaced by two 12,8cm twin-DPs. The old torpedo launchers are replaced by one 'Geier'-triple launcher. AA is now one 3cm-quad and two 5,5cm-twins.
The modern armament requires adequate radars and sonar, too. But the most structural change are the 12,8cm twin turrets. They penetrate two or three decks (I'm not really sure) and make extensive internal rebuilings necessary.
So refitting the old destroyers was not accepted by the OKM, the plan was rejected and the prewar destroyers were sold or scrapped within the 60s.

[Ashley]

With Z-102 the design was changed slightly. The 5,5cm aa-gun went to the very aft, the flight deck was shortened therefor and ecm-devices were installed.

[emperor_andreas]

I LOVE those ships! Keep up the great work; can't wait to see the history of the Deutschlands! Also: please tell us what happens to the 'Big Four' in this AU...are Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, Bismarck, and Tirpitz sunk, sold for scrap, or do they become museum ships? Personally I think all four deserve the latter honor, but it's your AU.

-Matt

[Ashley]

The Alvensleben was a single ship class designed after Seydlitz. It featured a superior firepower with its 15"-guns.
Tech. data: length 193m, displacement 25.000 tons empty, 28500 tons max., prop 80000 hp, vmax 28,2 knots.
Arms: 3x2x38cm, 14x15cm, 12x8,8cm in casemats, 4x8,8cm aa 5x50cm torpedotube

Due to several technical problems the germans were glad the ship was stricken with the Washington treaty.

[Biancini1995]

nice ship ashley

[Carthaginian]

She'd have made a frightening opponent for Refit and Repair.
What problems with machinery? Was she one of their odd steam/diesel propulsion experiments?

[Clonecommander6454]

I think one turret forward and two after isn't the greatest idea.
Those small guns mid-ship is also too close together IMO.

[Ashley]

I think one turret forward and two after isn't the greatest idea.

It is if you want to optimize weight distribution. It just looks odd 'cause very most warships with three turrets wear two of them on the fore deck.

[Ashley]

She'd have made a frightening opponent for Refit and Repair.
What problems with machinery? Was she one of their odd steam/diesel propulsion experiments?

To early for diesel. She was fitted wis high pressure steam turbines. They were a pure pain in the ass for any engineer. Further the new 15" gun (two years before Bayern-class) was a big step forward. It made a very large turret neccessary and it was believed the barbette had to be as oversized. The turning mechanism failed sometimes.

Now what do we do with big good looking ship with that problems and only 10 years old? You can't sell her you can't use her without heartattack. Rebuilding would cost nearly as much as a new ship.