M Class cruiser
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| "Kreuzer P Class" |  |
|---|---|
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 8,600 tons (M, N,O, P) 10,400 tons (Q, R) |
| Length: | 570' (M, N,O, P) 605' (Q, R) |
| Beam: | 50' (M, N,O, P) 55' (Q, R) |
| Draft: | 22' (M, N,O, P) 18' (Q, R) |
| Armament: | Guns 8x5.9" 4x88mm AA 8x37mm AA 6x20mm AA 8x21" torpedo tubes 60 Mines |
| Armor: | 2" belt 1" deck 1" turret |
| Aircraft: | Unknown |
| Radar: | Unknown |
| Propulsion: | Unknown |
| Speed: | 32 kts maximum |
| Range: | 10,000 nautical miles at 16 kts |
| Crew: | 300 |
Leichte Kreuzer M-Class (M, N,O, P)
Early as spring of 1936, design studies for a new class of light cruisers started. All previous build light cruisers were not able to fulfill their planned task as commerce raiders because of their too short range, therefore the new ships called Kreuzer M should get an enlarged endurance. Like the earlier cruisers those ships should get a mixed propulsion system consisting of diesel engines for slower cruise speed and steam turbines for high speed. In relation to their size, those ships would have been not very heavily armed and protected, compared with Allied designs like the British Town Class.
Leichte Kreuzer M-Class (Q and R)
After the first four ships (M, N,O, P) an improved version (Q and R) should have been built. Besides a slightly increased size, the heavy antiaircraft armament should have been increased and the fire control of these guns should have been improved.
With a projected construction time of two and a half years, the orders for the first four ships were given on May 28, 1938. While first work started as early as November 1938, it was planned to lay down the keel for the first ship on November 1, 1939, but after the outbreak of World War II, the used material was scrapped in the shipyard.
Leichte Kreuzer M-Class (M, N,O, P)
- Laid down: Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven, 1938
- Fate: construction stopped September 21,1939
Leichte Kreuzer M-Class (Q, R)
- Laid down: Schichau Danzig (projected)
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