Leipzig German Light Cruiser

1929 LEIPZIG The first of a pair of essentially similar light cruisers constructed for the German Navy, six years apart, starting in 1928, the last of their type ever built in Germany.

THE LEIPZIG CLASS

The Treaty of Versailles which ended World War One allowed Germany to possess eight light cruisers of up to 6000 tons, and replace them twenty years after their launch. The ships retained after 1919 were all built around the turn of the century, and six were replaced as funds became available; Nymphe being broken up after Leipzig was launched, in 1932. Leipzig was constructed at Wilhelmshaven Naval Dockyard. Laid down on 28 March 1 928, she was launched on 18 October 1 929 and commissioned on 8 October 1931. She was torpedoed by the submarine HMS Salmon in the North Sea on 13 December 1 939, and was repaired and re-fitted as a training ship. On 15 October 1 943, she was rammed accidentally by the Prinz Eugen, and only patched up. She was eventually loaded with poison-gas shells, and scuttled in July 1946.

MACHINERY
The most interesting feature of the German light cruisers of the 1920s and 30s was their use of combined steam and diesel machinery, with geared turbines each driving a wing shaft and four double-acting two-stroke diesels driving the central shaft. With only the latter in operation, the ship had a cruising speed of eighteen knots (33.5km/h), which almost doubled when the steam turbines were also engaged.

TECHNICAL DATA

Type: Light cruiser
Machinery: 3-shaft, two geared turbines giving 60,000shp plus four 7-cylinder 2-stroke diesels giving 12,400bhp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 177.1 m (581ft); beam, 16.2m (53.2ft)
Displacement: 6515t standard; 8250t full load
Draught: 5.7m (18.7ft) full load
Co 850
Speed: 32 knots (59km/h)