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LEIPZIG light cruiser (1931)


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Leipzig 1934  

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Leipzig   117 KMW Wilhelmshaven 28.4.1928 18.10.1929 8.10.1931 damaged 15.10.1944, repair incomplete


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

6310

Displacement full, t

8100

Length, m

168.8 wl 177.1 oa

Breadth, m

16.3

Draught, m

4.88 mean 5.69 max

No of shafts

3

Machinery

CODAS: 2 Germania geared steam turbines, 8 Marine boilers (2 shafts) + 4 MAN 2-stroke 7-cylinder double action diesels (1 shaft)

Power, h. p.

60000+12400=72400

Max speed, kts

31+18=32

Fuel, t

oil 1183, diesl oil 348

Endurance, nm(kts)2800(16.5) under turbines + 3900(10) under diesels
Armour, mmbelt: 50 - 20, bulkheads: 70, deck: 25 - 20, turrets: 30 - 20, CT: 100 - 30
Armament

3 x 3 - 149/57 SK C/25, 2 x 1 - 88/45 SK C/13, 4 x 3 - 500 TT, 120 mines

Complement

850



Standard scale images


<i>Leipzig</i> 1939
Leipzig 1939


Graphics


<i>Leipzig</i> 1934  
Leipzig 1934  


Project history

Leipzig ("cruiser Е", or "Ersatz Amazone") was development of "K" class, differing, first of all, by propulsive plant construction. Ship had three shafts, 4 MAN diesels with 3150hp power each worked on central shaft, ensuring 18-19kts speed. Boiler uptakes were deduced to single funnel, small funnel near superfiring aft turret has been intended for diesels. Hull structure have strengthened, have applied bulges covering an armoured belt, and a bulbous bow. The belt raked 18° outside had 50mm thickness amidships, 20mms in fore and 35mm in an aft ends. The armour deck in centreline area was flat, and to sides was rounded in the arc form and connected to belt lower edge, and its thickness in this part have increased from 20 to 25mm. Armoured citadel protected about 70% of a hull length. Armament structure have left without changes, but aft turrets have transferred to centreline.

Ship protection

18°-inclined inner 50mm belt extended between end turrets and closed by 70mm bulkheads fwd from fore and aft from aft turrets. Fore ship end was protected by 20mm belt, aft end by 35mm. Belt was connected with 15mm anti-torpedo longitudinal bulkhead by 10mm slope. 20mm flat main deck placed on upper belts edge level and was connected with lower edge of the belt by 25mm thick curved outer parts. Turrets had 30mm faces and 20mm sides, rears and roofs. Shell hoists had 30mm armor. CT had 100-50mm sides, 50mm roof and 50mm communication tube. There was 20mm fore bulkhead.

Modernizations

1934: - 4 x 3 - 500 TT; + 2 x 1 - 88/45 SK C/13, 4 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30, 4 x 1 - 20/65 C/30, 4 x 3 - 533 TT

1936: - 4 x 1 - 88/45; + 3 x 2 - 88/72 SK C/32, 1 catapult, 2 seaplanes (He 60)

(2/1940 - 12.1940): 2 boilers were removed, maximal speed felt to 24kts; - 1 catapult with seaplanes

early 1941: - 4 x 1 - 20/65, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 2 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, 4 x 1 - 20/65 C/38

Summer 1943: + FuMO 22 radar, FuMB 4 Sumatra, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suites

early 1944: - 2 x 3 - 533 TT

mid-1944: - 4 x 2 - 37/80, 2 x 4 - 20/65, 4 x 1 - 20/65; + 4 x 1 - 40/56 FlaK 28, 8 x 2 - 20/65 C/38

Naval service

Leipzig 13.12.1939 was torpedoed by British submarines Salmon and Ursula. She was never completely repaired and commissioned again as training ship (4 boilers were demounted, max speed decreased to 24kts); 15.10.1944 she was hard damaged as a result of collision with heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, repair was incomplete till end of war; she was scuttled by Allies in Skagerrack 11.7.1946 being loaded with chemical amunition.