These ships were an evolution of the Derfflinger Class, with the same gun layout, but a jump
to 14" guns. This decision was made
to match the 13.5" guns in British service,
and the 14" guns on American and Japanese
vessels. The increase in gun caliber resulted
in an increase in displacement of about 3000
tons.
Laid down in 1915, these ships took an inordinate
time to built due to shortages of steel,
armor plate, heavy gun manufacturing capacity,
and skilled labor. There was little realistic
chance that these vessels would ever enter
service.
A post-war idea to convert the unfinished
hulls to motor tankers, with diesel propultion
plants out of submarines, was rejected.
| Laid down Mackensen: 30 Jan 1915 Ersatz Freya: 1 May 1915 Graf Spee: 30 Nov 1915 Ersatz Friedrich Carl: 3 Nov 1915 |
Launched Mackensen: 21 Apr 1917 Ersatz Freya: 13 Mar 1920 Graf Spee: 15 Sep 1917 Ersatz Friedrich Carl:N/A |
Completed N/A |
Commissioned N/A |
| Fate All broken up before completion. |
Builders Mackensen: Blohm & Voss Ersatz Freya: Blohm & Voss Graf Spee: F. Schichau Ersatz Frierich Carl: Kaiserliche Werft |
Complement 1,186 Design |
|
| Displacement 30,510 tons std, 34,742 tons max |
Dimensions 731.6' x 99.5' |
Draught 30.6' |
|
| Main guns 8 x 14"/50 (4 x 2) |
Secondary guns 14 x 5.9" (14 x 1) |
Light guns 8 x 88mm (8 x 1) |
Torpedo tubes 5 x 23.6" submerged |
| Armour Belt: 11.75" Turrets: 11.75" Deck: 1.2" C.T.: 13.75" |
|||
| Machinery 32 boilers 24 coal, 8 oil |
Turbines 4 x steam |
Power output 90,000 shp |
Shafts 4 |
| Speed 27 kts |
Range Approx 10,000 miles @ 10 knots |
Fuel 788 tons coal 295 tons oil |
|
Mackensen:
Construction stopped after launch, approx
12 months from completion when war ended.
Designated for internment at Scapa Flow,
but not seaworthy, so Baden substituted.
Deleted 17 Nov 1919
Sold Oct 1921
Broken up 1923-24 by Messrs A. Kubatz, Hamburg
Ersatz Freya:
Intended name Prince Eitel Friedrich
Worked stopped summer 1917 before launch.
Approx 21 months from completion when war
ended.
Launched to clear slipway, derisively named
"Noske" by shipyard workers.
Broken up 1923-24 by Messrs A. Kubatz, Hamburg
Graf Spee:
Construction stopped after launch, approx
18 months from completion when war ended.
Deleted 17 Nov 1919
Sold 28 Oct 1921
Broken up by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel
Ersatz Frierich Carl:
Intended name Furst Bismarck
Work stopped before launch, approx 26 months
from completion when war ended.
Deleted 17 Nov 1919
Broken up on slipway by 1922
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