Axis Navies in WWII
Kriegsmarine (Germany)
Battleships
Admiral Graf Spee
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany/
Laid Down- October 1, 1932/
Launched- June 30, 1934/
Commissioned- January 6, 1936/
Fate- Scuttled December 17, 1939/
Displacement- 12,100 t standard; 16,200 t full load/
Length- 186 m/
Beam- 21.6 m/
Crew- 1,150/
Draft- 7.4 m/
Armour And Armament
Armour- Turret face: (160 mm), Belt: (80 mm), Deck: (40 mm)/
Armament- 6 × 280 mm (11 inch), 8 × 150 mm (5.9 inch), 6 × 105 mm (4.1 inch), 8 × 37 mm, 10 × 20 mm
8 × 533 mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes/
Firing Capacity
Rate Of Fire- 28 cm guns: 2.5 round/min each, 15 cm guns: 6 to 8 round/min each/
Gun Range- 28 cm guns at 40 deg; (armor-piercing shells): 36,475 m/
Estimated Gun Life- 28 cm guns: about 340 rounds; 15 cm guns: about 1,100 rounds/
Munitions Supply- 28 cm guns: 105 to 120 rounds per gun/
Mobility
Propulsion- Eight 9-cylinder double-acting two-stroke MAN diesels two screws, 52,050 hp (40 MW)/
Speed- 28.5 knots (53 km/h)/
Range- 8,900 nautical miles at 20 knots (16,500 km at 37 km/h)/
Other
Sensors- Early version of Seetakt radar/
Aircraft- Two Arado 196 seaplanes, one catapult/
The Bismarck
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany/
Built- Blohm & Voss, Hamburg/
Laid Down- 1 July 1936/
Launched- 14 February 1939/
Commissioned- 24 August 1940/
Fate- Scuttled on 27 May 1941/
Displacement- 41,700 t standard; 50,900 t full load/
Length- 241.6 m waterline 251 m overall/
Width- 36.0 m/
Crew- 2,200+ (officers, non-commissioned officers, enlisted men and prize crew)/
Draft- 9.3 m standard 10.2 m full load/
Armament
Armament- 8 × 380 mm (15 in) SKC34 (4×2), 12 × 150 mm (5.9 in) (6×2), 16 × 105 mm (4.1 in) (8×2)
16 × 37 mm (8×2), 20 × 20 mm (20 × 1)/
Mobility
Propulsion- 12 Wagner superheated boilers; 3 Blohm & Voss geared turbines; 3 three-blade propellers, 4.70 m diameter
150,170 hp (110 MW) = 30 knots trials/
Range- 9,280 nautical miles (17,200 km) @ 16 knots (30 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 4, with 1 double-ended catapult/
Tirpitz
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany/
Ordered- 1935/
Laid Down- 2 November 1936/
Launched- 1 April 1939/
Commissioned- 25 February 1941/
Fate- Capsized by enemy action on 12 November 1944/
Displacement- 42,900t standard; 52,600t full load/
Length- 251m/
Width- 36m/
Height- 8.7m/
Crew- 2,608/
Armament
Armament- 8 × 380 mm (15 in) (4×2) SKC 34, 12 × 150 mm (5.9 in) (6×2), 16 × 105 mm (4.1 in) (8×2)
16 × 37 mm (8×2), 20 × 20 mm (20 × 1) (later 90), 8 × 533 mm torpedo tubes/
Mobility
Propulsion- 163,026 shp = 30.8 kt/
Other
Aircraft- 4, with 2 catapults/
Aircraft Carriers
Graf Zeppelin
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany/
Ordered- November 16, 1935/
Laid Down- December 28, 1936/
Launched- December 8, 1938/
Fate- Sunk as a target ship on August 16, 1947/
Displacement- 33 550 tonnes/
Length- 262.5 metres/
Beam- 31.5 metres/
Crew- 1,720 crew, 306 flight personnel/
Armament
Armament- 16 × Sk. 15 cm, 12 × Flak (10.5 cm), 22 × Flak (3.7 cm), 28 × Flak (2.0 cm)/
Mobility
Power- 150,000 kW/
Power Plant- Geared turbines/
Propellers- Four screws/
Speed- 35 knots/
Endurance- 14 816 km at 19 knots/
Other
Aircraft- Complement of 50,10 Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters,20 Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers,
20 Fieseler Fi 167 torpedo bombers/
Battlecruisers
Gneisenau
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany/
Ordered- January 25, 1934/
Laid Down- May 6, 1935/
Launched- December 8, 1936/
Commissioned- May 21, 1938/
Fate- Sunk as block ship in Gotenhafen on March 23, 1945/
Displacement- 31,500 tonnes (standard) 38,900 tonnes (full load)/
Length- 235 m (772 ft) overall, 226 m (741.5 ft) waterline/
Beam- 30 m (98.4 ft)/
Crew- 1,669 (56 officers, 1613 enlisted)/
Draft- 9.69 m (31 ft 9 in.) at 37,303 tons/
Armour And Armament
Armour- Main belt: 350 mm (13.78 inch), Deck: 95 mm max./
Armament- 9 × 280 mm (11 inch), 12 × 150 mm (5.9 inch), 14 × 105 mm (4.1 inch), 16 × 37 mm
10 × 20 mm (later 16), 6 × 533 mm torpedo tubes/
Mobility
Propulsion- 3 Germania geared turbines with single reduction, 3 three-bladed propellers, 4.8 m (15 9 inch) diameter
151,893 shp = 33 kt/
Range- 8,400 nm at 19 kt/
Other
Aircraft- 3 Arado Ar 196A-3, 1 catapult/
Scharnhorst
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany
Ordered- 25 January 1934/
Laid Down- 15 June 1935/
Launched- 3 October 1936/
Draft- 9.93 m (32.5 ft) at 37,500 long tons (38,100 tonnes)/
Commissioned- 7 January 1939/
Fate- Sunk in the Battle of North Cape on 26 December 1943/
Displacement- 31,552 tonnes (standard) 38,900 tonnes (full load)/
Length- 235.4 m (772.3 ft) overall, 229.8 m (753.9 ft) waterline/
Beam- 30 m (98.4 ft)/
Crew- 1,968 (60 officers, 1909 enlisted)/
Armour And Armament
Armament- 9 × 283 mm (11.1 inch), 12 × 150 mm (5.9 inch), 14 × 105 mm (4.1 inch),16 × 37 mm,
10 × 20 mm (later 38), 6 × 533 mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes/
Mobility
Propulsion- 3 Brown-Boveri geared turbines; 3 three-bladed propellers, 4.8 m (15.75 ft) diameter;
161,164 shp (120.18 MW) = 33 kt/
Range- 10,100 nm at 19 kt (18,700 km at 35 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 3 Arado Ar196A-3, 1 catapult/
German cruiser Emden
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany/
Ordered- 1921/
Laid Down- December 1921/
Launched- January 1925/
Commissioned- October 1925/
Decommissioned- April 1945/
Fate- Scuttled May 1945/
Displacement- 7100 tons full load/
Length- 156 meters/
Beam- 14.30 meters/
Crew- 685/
Draught- 5.80 meters/
Armament
Armament- 8 × 5.9 inch (150 mm) guns, 3 × 105 mm (4.1 in) guns,3 × 88 mm guns, 4 × 37 mm guns
8 × 20 mm guns (later 20), 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes, 120 mines/
Mobility
Propulsion- Steam turbines, 2 shafts, 4 boilers, 46,500 shp /34,000 kW (after refit in 1934)/
Speed- 29.5 knots/
Range- 6,750 nautical miles at 15 knots/
Deutschland class cruiser
General Characteristics
Career- Nazi Germany/
Displacement- 12,100 t standard; 16,200 t full load/
Length- 610 ft (186 m)/
Beam- 71 ft (21.6 m)/
Crew- 1,150/
Draft- 24 ft (7.4 m)/
Armour And Armament
Armour- Turret face: (160 mm), belt: (80 mm), deck: 40 mm)/
Armament- 6 × 280 mm (11 inch), 8 × 150 mm (5.9 inch), 6 × 105 mm (4.1 inch), 8 × 37 mm10 × 20 mm,
8 × 533 mm (21 inch)/
Mobility
Propulsion- Eight MAN diesels driving two screws/
Speed- 28.5 knots (53 km/h)/
Power- 52,050 hp (40 MW)/
Range- 8,900 nautical miles at 20 knots (16,500 km at 37 km/h)/
Other
Radar- From 1937, 60 cm Seetakt FuMO/
Aircraft- one catapult with Arado 196 seaplane(s)/
U-Boat (Unterseeboote-Under sea boat)
Career- Nazi Germany/
Maximum Depth- 200 meters/
Displacement- 862 tons (sf), 982 tons (sm)/
Length- 72.5 meters/
Beam- 6.2 meters/
Crew- 46 men/
Draft- 4.3 meters (sf)/
Armour And Armament
Guns- 1x105mm (4.1 inch), 1x20mm (0.79 inch) AA/
Torpedo Tubes- 4 bow, 2 stern/
Torpedoes- 14/
Mines- 28 TMA/
Mobility
Speed- 18.6 knots (sf), 8.3 knots (sm)/
Power- 3080 horsepower (sf), 1000 horsepower (sm)/
Range- 7900 nm @ 10 knots (14615 km @18.5kph) (sf), 78 nm @ 4 knots (144 km @ 7.4kph)(sm)/
Imperial Japanese Navy
Battle Cruisers
Japanese battleship Kongo/
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Ordered- 1911
Laid Down- January 17, 1911/
Launched- May 18, 1912/
Commissioned- August 16, 1913/
Fate- Sunk on 21 November 1944 in the Formosa Strait/
Removed from the Navy list- 20 January 1945/
Displacement- 36,600 tons/
Length- 222 m (728 feet 4 inches)/
Beam- 31 m (101 feet 8 inches)/
Draught- 9.7 m (31 feet 9 inches)/
Crew- 1360/
Armament
Armament- Eight 14 inch guns, sixteen 6 inch guns, eight 5 inch DP, up to 118 × 25 mm AA/
Mobility
Propulsion- Steam turbines, 4 shafts/
Speed- 30 knots/
Range- 10,000 nm at 14 kt/
Japanese battleship Hiei
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Ordered- 1911/
Laid Down- 4 November 1911/
Launched- 21 November 1912/
Commissioned- 4 August 1914/
Fate- Scuttled at Savo Island on 13 November 1942/
Displacement- 36,600 tons/
Length- 222 m (728 ft 4 in)/
Beam- 31 m (101 ft 8 in)/
Draught- 9.7 m (31 ft 9 in)/
Crew- 1,360/
Armament
Armament- 8 × 14 inch (357 mm) guns, 6 × 6 inch (152 mm) guns, 8 × 5 inch (127 mm) DP,
up to 118 × 25 mm AA/
Japanese battleship Haruna
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Ordered- 1911/
Laid Down- 16 March 1912/
Launched- 14 December 1913/
Commissioned- 19 April 1915/
Fate- Sunk by airplanes at her moorings at Kure on 28 July 1945/
Struck- Raised and Scapped at 2 December 1946 - 14 February 1948/
Displacement- 36,600 tonnes/
Length- 222.0 m (728 ft 4 in)/
Beam- 31.0 m (101 ft 8 in)/
Draught- 9.7 m (31 ft 9 in)/
Crew- 1,360/
Armament
Armament- 8 × 14 inch guns, 16 × 6 inch guns, 8 × 5 inch DP, up to 118 × 25 mm AA/
Mobility
Propulsion- Steam turbines, 4 shafts/
Speed- 30 knots (55 km/h)/
Range-9,500 nm at 14 kt (17,600 km at 25 km/h)/
Japanese battleship Kirishima
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Ordered- 1911/
Laid Down- March 17, 1912/
Launched- December 1, 1913/
Commissioned- April 19, 1915/
Fate- Sunk at Guadalcanal on November 15, 1942/
Displacement- 36,600 tons/
Length- 222 m (728 feet 4 inches)/
Beam- 31 m (101 feet 8 inches)/
Draught- 9.7 m (31 feet 9 inches)/
Crew- 1360/
Armament
Armament- Eight 14 inch guns, sixteen 6 inch guns, eight 5 inch DP, up to 118 × 25 mm AA/
Mobility
Propulsion- Steam turbines, 4 shafts/
Speed- 30 knots/
Range- 10,000 nm at 14 kt/
Battle Ships
Japanese battleship Hyuga
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Ordered- 1912/
Laid Down- May 16, 1915/
Launched- January 27, 1917/
Commissioned- April 30, 1918/
Fate- The Hyuga's crew runs the ship aground in shallow waters at 27 July 1945/
Displacement- 38,872 tons (39,496 t)/
Length- 219.62 m/
Beam- 33.8 m/
Draught- 9.14 m (mean)/
Crew- 1,463/
Armament
Armament- 12 × 14 in / 45 cal, 16 × 5.5 in / 50 cal, 8 × 5 in/40 cal, 20 × 25 mm/
Mobility
Propulsion- 80,640 hp (60.13 MW)/
Speed- 25 knots (46 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 22
Japanese battleship Nagato
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- August 28, 1917/
Launched- November 9, 1919/
Commissioned- November 15, 1920/
Fate- Sunk during the second Operation Crossroads Bikini nuclear test, 25 July 1946/
Struck- 15 September 1945/
Displacement- 42,850 tons/
Length- 221.03 m (725 ft 2 in)/
Beam- 34.59 m (113 ft 6 in)/
Draught- 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)/
Crew- 1,368/
Armament
Armament- Eight 16 inch (406 mm) guns, Twenty (later eighteen) 5.5 inch (140 mm) guns/
Eight 5 inch (127 mm) anti-aircraft guns, Up to 98 25 mm AA guns/
Mobility
Propulsion- Geared turbines, 4 shafts, 80000 hp (60 MW)/
Speed- 27 knots (50 km/h)/
Range- 5,500 nautical miles at 16 knots (10,200 km at 30 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 3/
Japanese battleship Mutsu
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- June 1, 1918/
Launched- May 31, 1920/
Commissioned- October 24, 1921/
Fate- Sunk by internal explosion, June 8, 1943/
Displacement- 42,850 tons/
Length- 221.03 m (725 ft 2 in)/
Beam- 34.59 m (113 ft 6 in)/
Draught- 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)/
Crew- 1,368/
Armament
Armament- Eight 16 inch (406 mm) guns, Twenty (later eighteen) 5.5 inch (140 mm) guns/
Eight 5 inch (127 mm) anti-aircraft guns, Up to 98 25 mm AA guns/
Mobility
Propulsion- Geared turbines, 4 shafts, 80000 hp (60 MW) /
Speed- 27 knots (50 km/h)/
Range- 5,500 nautical miles at 16 knots (10,200 km at 30 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 3/
Japanese battleship Musashi
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Ordered- June 1937/
Laid Down- March 29, 1938/
Launched- November 1, 1940/
Commissioned- August 5, 1942/
Fate- Sunk October 24, 1944, Sibuyan Sea/
Struck- August 31, 1945/
Displacement- 68,200 tons/
Length- 263 m (863 ft) overall, 256 m (840 ft) waterline/
Beam- 38.9 m (127.8 ft)/
Draught- 11 m (36 ft) at full load/
Crew- 2,399/
Armour And Armament
Armour- 650 mm on front of turrets, 410 mm (16.1 in) side armour, 200 mm (8 in) deck armour/
Armament
August 1942 (as built)- 9 × 460 mm (18.1 in) (3×3), 12 × 155 mm (6.1 in) (4×3), 12 × 127 mm (5 in) (6×2)
24 × 25 mm AA (8×3), 4 × 13 mm (2×2)/
Armament October 1944(as sunk)- 9 × 460 mm (18.1 in) (3×3),6 × 155 mm (6.1 in) (2×3)
12 × 127 mm (5 in) (6×2), 130 × 25 mm AA (32×3, 34×1), 4 × 13 mm (2×2)/
Mobility
Propulsion- 12 Kanpon boilers, driving 4 steam turbines 150,000 shp (110 MW), four 3-bladed 6.0 m propellers/
Speed- 27.46 knots (50.86 km/h)/
Range- 7,200 nmi. at 16 kt (13,000 km at 30 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 7, 2 catapults/
Japanese battleship Yamato
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Ordered- March 1937/
Laid Down- 4 November 1937/
Launched- 8 August 1940/
Commissioned- 16 December 1941/
Fate- Sunk 7 April 1945 North of Okinawa/
Displacement- 65,027 tonnes (empty, including 21,266 tonnes of armor); 72,800 tonnes (estimated, full load)/
Length- 256 m (800.5 ft) water-line, 263 m (862.5 ft) overall/
Beam- 36.9 m (121 ft)/
Draught- 11 m (36 ft) maximum/
Armament And Armour
Armour- 650 mm on face of turrets, 410 mm side armor, inclined 20 degrees,200 mm armored deck/
Armament (1941)- 9 × 46 cm (18.1 inch) (3×3), 12 × 15.5 cm (6.1 inch) (4×3), 12 × 12.7 cm (6×2)
24 × 25 mm AA (8×3), 4 × 13 mm AA (2×2)/
Armament (1945)- 9 × 46 cm (18.1 inch) (3×3), 6 × 15.5 cm (6.1 inch) (2×3), 24 × 12.7 cm (12×2)
162 × 25 mm AA (52×3, 6×1), 4 × 13 mm AA (2×2)/
Mobility
Propulsion- 12 Kampon boilers, driving 4 steam turbines, 150,000 shp (110 MW), Four 3-bladed propellers, 6.0 m (19.7 ft) diameter/
Speed- 27 knots (50 km/h)/
Range- 11,500 km at 16 knots (30 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 7, 2 catapults/
Aircraft Carriers
Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- 19 July 1920/
Launched- 17 November 1921/
Commissioned- 1 November 1929/
Fate- Sunk by US air attack at the battle of Midway, on 4 June 1942/
Struck- 10 August 1942/
Displacement- 33,693 tonnes/
Length- 260.7 metres (waterline)/
Beam- 31.3 metres/
Draught- 8.7 metres/
Crew- 2,400/
Armament
Armament- Ten 8 inch (200 mm) guns, sixteen 5 inch (120 mm) guns, twenty-two 25 mm anti-aircraft guns/
Mobility
Propulsion- Kanpon geared turbines, 91,000 hp (67.9 MW), 4 shafts/
Speed- 31.25 knots (57.88 km/h)/
Range- 7,000 nmi. at 12 knots (13,000 km at 22 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 91 (after reconstruction)/
Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano/
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- 4 May 1940/
Launched- 8 October 1944/
Commissioned- 19 November 1944/
Fate- Sunk on 29 November 1944 by the submarine Archer-Fish/
Displacement- 71,890 tons full load, 64,000 tons standard/
Length- 266.1 m (872.9 ft)/
Beam- 36.3 m (119 ft) waterline, 40 m (131.3 ft) flight deck/
Draught- 10 m (32.9 ft)/
Crew- 2,400/
Armour And Armament
Armour- 127 mm (5 inch) side belt, 100 mm (4 inch) deck, 79 mm (3.1 inch) flight deck/
Armament- Sixteen 100 mm (3.9 inch) / 40-caliber guns, twelve 120 mm (4.7 inch) / 45-caliber guns, 145 - 25 mm/60-caliber anti-aircraft guns, twelve 28-barreled 127 mm (5 inch) AA rocket launchers/
Mobility
Propulsion- 12 Kanpon oil-fired boilers, geared steam turbines, 4 screws, 153,000 hp (114 MW)/
Speed- 28 knots (52 km/h)/
Range- 7,200 nm. at 16 knots (13,300 km at 30 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 47 (capable of storing 120)/
Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho/
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- 3 December 1934/
Launched- 1 June 1935/
Commissioned- 30 November 1941/
Fate- Sunk by air attack on 7 May 1942/
Struck- 20 May 1942/
Displacement- 14,200 tons (full);11,262 tons (standard)/
Length- 205.5 m/
Beam- 18.2 m/
Draught- 6.6 m/
Crew- 785/
Armament
Armament- Eight 5 127 mm guns, Eight 25 mm guns, Twelve 13.2 mm guns/
Mobility
Propulsion- Geared turbines, 52,000 hp (38.8 MW), 2 shafts/
Speed- 28.2 knots (52.2 km/h)/
Range- 7,800 nmi. at 12 knots (14,400 km at 22 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 30
Japanese aircraft carrier Chitose
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- 26 November 1934/
Launched- 29 November 1936/
Commissioned- 25 July 1938/
Conversion- 1942 to 1944/
Fate- Sunk in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944/
Displacement- 11,200 tons (standard), 15,300 tons (max.)/
Length- 192.5 m/
Beam- 20.8 m /
Draught- 7.5m/
Crew- 800/
Armament
Armament- 8 - 127 mm, 30-48 (in 1944) 25 mm/
Mobility
Propulsion- 2 geared turbines. 2 steam turbines, 2 shafts, 56,800 shp/
Speed- 28.9 knots/
Fuel- 3,000 tonnes/
Other
Aircraft- 30/
Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- December 12, 1937/
Launched- June 1, 1939/
Commissioned- August 8, 1941/
Fate- Sunk by US submarine Cavalla on 19 June 1944/
Displacement- 32,105 tons (fully loaded), 25,675 tons (standard)/
Length- 257.5 m/
Beam- 26 m/
Draught- 8.8 m/
Crew- 1,660/
Armament
Armament- Sixteen 5 inch (127 mm) AA guns(Type 98), 70 25 mm machine guns(Type 96)/
Mobility
Propulsion- Kanpon geared turbines, 160,000 hp (119 MW), 4 screws/
Speed- 34.2 knots (63.3 km/h)/
Range- 9,700 nmi. at 18 knots (18,000 km at 33 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 30/
Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku
General Characteristics
Career- Imperial Japanese Navy/
Laid Down- 25 May 1938/
Launched- 27 November 1939/
Commissioned- 25 September 1941/
Fate- Sunk by air attack in the Battle of Cape Engano on 25 October 1944/
Struck- 26 August 1945/
Displacement- 29,800 tons/
Length- 257.5 m/
Beam- 26 m/
Draught- 8.9 m/
Crew- 1,660/
Armament
Armament- 16 × 5 in (127 mm) guns, 36(last 96) x 25 mm anti-aircraft guns/
Mobility
Propulsion- Kanpon geared turbines, 8 boilers, 160,000 hp (119 MW), 4 shafts/
Speed- 34.5 knots (63.9 km/h)/
Range- 9,700 nmi. at 18 knots (18,000 km at 33 km/h)/
Other
Aircraft- 84