Post by lordroel on Oct 22, 2021 11:27:43 GMT
Royal Danish Navy Never Were Designs
In 1933, while Germany became more menacing with the advent of the Third Reich, Denmark did not change its naval policy and a small number of coastal torpedo boats and submersibles were built. The "cruiser" Niels Juel, completed in 1922, was modernized in 1933 but could not really claim the title of "cruiser" because of its tonnage and speed, making it more a conventional coastal defense ship. Besides, apart from a few high-seas torpedo boats, Denmark did not have a single destroyer or oceanic submarine. This pure coastal defence force was completed by civilian-converted guard patrol ships, in addition, enforcing shipping areas.
Project PG 225 Gunboat/Inspection ship (1936 December)
The project was an improved version of the inspection ship HDMS Ingolf, not alone with a stronger main armament and with torpedoes, but furthermore with a light horizontal armored deck made of shipbuilding steel positioned 25cm above the water line. A single reconnaissance floatplane can be carried behind the funnel which was lowered and recovered from the water via a crane. The searchlights are located on pillars both side of the funnel (90cm ones) and above the bridge, just beneath the main rangefinder (35cm ones). One notices that the aft firing guns had gotten priority just like what was the case for some of the similar ship projects of the time.
Data:
Dimensions: 84,5 x 11,4 x 3,7m
Displacement: circa 1.550tons standard
Maximum speed: 33km/h (18knots)
Armour: Strengthened deck
Armament:
5x1 12cm guns (1 forward, 1-1 at both sides of the superstructure 2 aft)
4x2 40mm AA MG
Number of 8mm AA MG
2x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
2x 90cm search lights
2x 35cm search lights
1x 4m rangefinder
Project PG 226 Gunboat/Inspection ship (1936 December)
This project was again an improved Ingolf similar to the previous PG 225 design except the use of flush deck design and superfirng pair of guns forward and aft. Like in PG 225 there was a light armored deck and furthermore provisions were made to carry a single reconnaissance floatplane which was placed just behind of the mainmast, over and around the shield of the 3rd gun, which thereby concealed under the plane similarly to HMDS Ingolf’s aft turrets. Armament is very similar that of project PG 225 though the 90cm searchlights were on platforms, both sides of the funnel, roughly half of its height.
Data:
Dimensions: 84,5 x 11,4 x 3,7m
Displacement: circa 1.500tons standard
Maximum speed: 31km/h (17knots)
Armour: Strengthened deck
Armament:
4x1 12cm guns (all centreline)
4x2 40mm AA MG
Number of 8mm AA MG
2x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
2x 90cm search lights
2x 35cm search lights
1x 4m rangefinder
Project PG 237 Gunboat/Inspection Ship (1938 February)
This project was designed as a training and inspection ship and marked considerable improvement over the previous 2 ships. Not alone for the heavier main armament but also because the ship was to be protected by 2 armored decks and a light belt armour. The front part of the armoured deck (approximately 25mm thick) was 2,4m above the waterline, which was protected both ammunition magazines and continued down each side 1m below the waterline, while the aft part continued as the belt armoring in the height of the lower armored deck. The lower armored deck was 40cm over and 1m below the water line, inclined 45° to connect with the lower edge of the side armoring.
The main gun barbettes diameter was of 4.5m and it’s armour thickness was 30mm. This formed the protection for the ammunition elevator. Each turret had it’s own 6m rangefinder in the back side of turret, on the aft deck (similar ot HMDS Peder Skram) there is a small aiming tower for the torpedo launchers. There are altogether 4 searchlights 3 90cm ones around the funnel and 1 60cm on the front of the bridge. This design had no installation for aircrafts.
Data:
Dimensions: 96 x 13 x 4,5m
Displacement: 2.500tons standard, 2770tons full
Maximum speed: 38km/h (20,5knots)
Armour: 25mm belt, 25mm deck
Armament:
2x2 15cm guns (all centreline)
4x1 40mm AA MG
2x2 20mm AA MG
1x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
3x 90cm search lights
1x 60cm search lights
1x 6m rangefinder
Project PG 263 Training Gunboat (1941 June)
This project that was named Kadet-kanonbåd (cadet gunboat) and a revised version of the earlier PG 237 design. Powerplant was mixed steam turbines and diesels driving 3 shafts, with the two outer ones powered by the steam turbines and the centre one by the diesel engines and used for cruising speed. Protection was formed by two armored decks, the lower deck was 2,4m above and 70cm below the waterline with an inclination of 45°. The ship side was not reinforced but the lower deck which went out horizontally to the sides formed a kind of bulkhead with the ship side plate on both sides. Searchlights include 2 90cm ones near the superstructure and 2 35cm ones for navigational use on the bridge. A 3 meter rangefinder was located on a platform behind the funnel near the 40mm AA guns. Like on the previous design, this ship too lack facilities for aircrafts.
Data:
Dimensions: 89,5 x 13 x 4m
Displacement: 1.960tons standard, 2200tons full
Maximum speed: 38km/h (20,5knots)
Armour: 25mm belt, 25mm deck
Armament:
2x2 15cm guns (all centreline)
2x2 40mm AA MG
4x1 20mm AA MG
1x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
2x 90cm search lights
2x 35cm search lights
1x 6m rangefinder
1x 3m rangefinder
Capital ship designs:
The history of naval warfare showed that most battles were fought using broadsides of warships and hence a ship with an all aft armament and stronger armour wouldn’t be weaker than a ship with standard layout and less armour. This kind of thinking was used in some of the coastal warship designs in the Danish navy of the 1930’s though with not much political possibility to be built. None the less these designs would provide defense for the long Danish shore line.
Data on the various projects:
Project A (1936 May)
5.730tons standard displacement,
37km/h (20knots),
2x2 254mm cannons (centerline forward and aft)
3x2 150mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 3rd superfiring over the aft main turret)
Project B (1936 October)
5.730tons standard displacement,
33km/h (18knots),
2x2 254mm cannons (centerline, evenly spread forward and aft)
4x2 120mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 2 superfiring over the main turrets)
2x2 533mm Torpedo tubes aft
Project C (1936 November)
4.600tons standard displacement,
39km/h (21knots),
2x2 202mm guns (centerline forward and aft)
4x2 120mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 2 superfiring over the main turrets)
2x2 533mm Torpedo tubes aft
Project D (1936 November-December)
4.000tons standard displacement,
Speed not specified
2x2 203mm guns (centerline forward and aft)
3x2 120mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 3rd superfiring over the aft main turret)
Project E (1939 August)
5.730tons standard displacement,
37km/h (20knots),
2x2 254mm cannons (centerline forward and aft)
4x2 150mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 2 superfiring over the main turrets)
Close range AA armament for these ships are not included in the designs but the following calibres were considered:
40mm, 25mm, 20mm, 8mm
Project A:
In 1933, while Germany became more menacing with the advent of the Third Reich, Denmark did not change its naval policy and a small number of coastal torpedo boats and submersibles were built. The "cruiser" Niels Juel, completed in 1922, was modernized in 1933 but could not really claim the title of "cruiser" because of its tonnage and speed, making it more a conventional coastal defense ship. Besides, apart from a few high-seas torpedo boats, Denmark did not have a single destroyer or oceanic submarine. This pure coastal defence force was completed by civilian-converted guard patrol ships, in addition, enforcing shipping areas.
Project PG 225 Gunboat/Inspection ship (1936 December)
The project was an improved version of the inspection ship HDMS Ingolf, not alone with a stronger main armament and with torpedoes, but furthermore with a light horizontal armored deck made of shipbuilding steel positioned 25cm above the water line. A single reconnaissance floatplane can be carried behind the funnel which was lowered and recovered from the water via a crane. The searchlights are located on pillars both side of the funnel (90cm ones) and above the bridge, just beneath the main rangefinder (35cm ones). One notices that the aft firing guns had gotten priority just like what was the case for some of the similar ship projects of the time.
Data:
Dimensions: 84,5 x 11,4 x 3,7m
Displacement: circa 1.550tons standard
Maximum speed: 33km/h (18knots)
Armour: Strengthened deck
Armament:
5x1 12cm guns (1 forward, 1-1 at both sides of the superstructure 2 aft)
4x2 40mm AA MG
Number of 8mm AA MG
2x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
2x 90cm search lights
2x 35cm search lights
1x 4m rangefinder
Project PG 226 Gunboat/Inspection ship (1936 December)
This project was again an improved Ingolf similar to the previous PG 225 design except the use of flush deck design and superfirng pair of guns forward and aft. Like in PG 225 there was a light armored deck and furthermore provisions were made to carry a single reconnaissance floatplane which was placed just behind of the mainmast, over and around the shield of the 3rd gun, which thereby concealed under the plane similarly to HMDS Ingolf’s aft turrets. Armament is very similar that of project PG 225 though the 90cm searchlights were on platforms, both sides of the funnel, roughly half of its height.
Data:
Dimensions: 84,5 x 11,4 x 3,7m
Displacement: circa 1.500tons standard
Maximum speed: 31km/h (17knots)
Armour: Strengthened deck
Armament:
4x1 12cm guns (all centreline)
4x2 40mm AA MG
Number of 8mm AA MG
2x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
2x 90cm search lights
2x 35cm search lights
1x 4m rangefinder
Project PG 237 Gunboat/Inspection Ship (1938 February)
This project was designed as a training and inspection ship and marked considerable improvement over the previous 2 ships. Not alone for the heavier main armament but also because the ship was to be protected by 2 armored decks and a light belt armour. The front part of the armoured deck (approximately 25mm thick) was 2,4m above the waterline, which was protected both ammunition magazines and continued down each side 1m below the waterline, while the aft part continued as the belt armoring in the height of the lower armored deck. The lower armored deck was 40cm over and 1m below the water line, inclined 45° to connect with the lower edge of the side armoring.
The main gun barbettes diameter was of 4.5m and it’s armour thickness was 30mm. This formed the protection for the ammunition elevator. Each turret had it’s own 6m rangefinder in the back side of turret, on the aft deck (similar ot HMDS Peder Skram) there is a small aiming tower for the torpedo launchers. There are altogether 4 searchlights 3 90cm ones around the funnel and 1 60cm on the front of the bridge. This design had no installation for aircrafts.
Data:
Dimensions: 96 x 13 x 4,5m
Displacement: 2.500tons standard, 2770tons full
Maximum speed: 38km/h (20,5knots)
Armour: 25mm belt, 25mm deck
Armament:
2x2 15cm guns (all centreline)
4x1 40mm AA MG
2x2 20mm AA MG
1x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
3x 90cm search lights
1x 60cm search lights
1x 6m rangefinder
Project PG 263 Training Gunboat (1941 June)
This project that was named Kadet-kanonbåd (cadet gunboat) and a revised version of the earlier PG 237 design. Powerplant was mixed steam turbines and diesels driving 3 shafts, with the two outer ones powered by the steam turbines and the centre one by the diesel engines and used for cruising speed. Protection was formed by two armored decks, the lower deck was 2,4m above and 70cm below the waterline with an inclination of 45°. The ship side was not reinforced but the lower deck which went out horizontally to the sides formed a kind of bulkhead with the ship side plate on both sides. Searchlights include 2 90cm ones near the superstructure and 2 35cm ones for navigational use on the bridge. A 3 meter rangefinder was located on a platform behind the funnel near the 40mm AA guns. Like on the previous design, this ship too lack facilities for aircrafts.
Data:
Dimensions: 89,5 x 13 x 4m
Displacement: 1.960tons standard, 2200tons full
Maximum speed: 38km/h (20,5knots)
Armour: 25mm belt, 25mm deck
Armament:
2x2 15cm guns (all centreline)
2x2 40mm AA MG
4x1 20mm AA MG
1x2 45cm Torpedo Tubes
Sensors:
2x 90cm search lights
2x 35cm search lights
1x 6m rangefinder
1x 3m rangefinder
Capital ship designs:
The history of naval warfare showed that most battles were fought using broadsides of warships and hence a ship with an all aft armament and stronger armour wouldn’t be weaker than a ship with standard layout and less armour. This kind of thinking was used in some of the coastal warship designs in the Danish navy of the 1930’s though with not much political possibility to be built. None the less these designs would provide defense for the long Danish shore line.
Data on the various projects:
Project A (1936 May)
5.730tons standard displacement,
37km/h (20knots),
2x2 254mm cannons (centerline forward and aft)
3x2 150mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 3rd superfiring over the aft main turret)
Project B (1936 October)
5.730tons standard displacement,
33km/h (18knots),
2x2 254mm cannons (centerline, evenly spread forward and aft)
4x2 120mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 2 superfiring over the main turrets)
2x2 533mm Torpedo tubes aft
Project C (1936 November)
4.600tons standard displacement,
39km/h (21knots),
2x2 202mm guns (centerline forward and aft)
4x2 120mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 2 superfiring over the main turrets)
2x2 533mm Torpedo tubes aft
Project D (1936 November-December)
4.000tons standard displacement,
Speed not specified
2x2 203mm guns (centerline forward and aft)
3x2 120mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 3rd superfiring over the aft main turret)
Project E (1939 August)
5.730tons standard displacement,
37km/h (20knots),
2x2 254mm cannons (centerline forward and aft)
4x2 150mm guns (2 winged turrets next to the bridge, 2 superfiring over the main turrets)
Close range AA armament for these ships are not included in the designs but the following calibres were considered:
40mm, 25mm, 20mm, 8mm
Project A: