WesWorld

The Kriegsmarine continues to debate its cruiser needs for the mid-1940s, no decision having been reached. An alternative design for a large light cruiser has been put forward, with slightly less speed than the "P" design and with a simplified machinery plant. It also features a revised protection scheme and slight increases to the anti-aircraft armament, and includes provision for additional directors and associated electronics.

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Light Cruiser "P2", German Light Cruiser laid down 1942

Displacement: 10,554 t light; 11,110 t standard; 12,917 t normal; 14,362 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

649.14 ft / 636.48 ft x 56.76 ft (Bulges 63.98 ft) x 23.13 ft (normal load) [197.86 m / 194.00 m x 17.30 m (Bulges 19.50 m) x 7.05 m]

Armament:

12 - 5.91" / 150 mm guns (4x3 guns), 102.98lbs / 46.71kg shells, 1938 Model Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes) on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 5.04" / 128 mm guns (2x2 guns), 63.99lbs / 29.03kg shells, 1940 Model Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
8 - 5.04" / 128 mm guns (4x2 guns), 63.99lbs / 29.03kg shells, 1940 Model Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists on side, evenly spread
24 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1938 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts on side, evenly spread
24 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (6x4 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1938 Model Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 2,047 lbs / 928 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 240
8 - 21.0" / 533 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:

Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 5.91" / 150 mm 393.70 ft / 120.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 95 % of normal length

Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 7.09" / 180 mm 3.94" / 100 mm 3.94" / 100 mm
2nd: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
4th: 0.59" / 15 mm 0.39" / 10 mm -
5th: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

Armour deck: 2.76" / 70 mm, Conning tower: 5.91" / 150 mm

Machinery:

Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, Geared drive, 4 shafts, 93,572 shp / 69,805 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 14,250nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,252 tons

Complement: 605 - 787

Cost: £5.896 million / $23.583 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 256 tons, 2.0 %
Armour: 2,760 tons, 21.4 %
- Belts: 949 tons, 7.3 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 488 tons, 3.8 %
- Armour Deck: 1,253 tons, 9.7 %
- Conning Tower: 70 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 2,444 tons, 18.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,794 tons, 37.1 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,363 tons, 18.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 300 tons, 2.3 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship): 17,844 lbs / 8,094 Kg = 173.3 x 5.9 " / 150 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
Metacentric height 3.0 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 15.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.38
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has rise forward of midbreak and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.480
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.95 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.87 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 43
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 34.78 ft / 10.60 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 24.44 ft / 7.45 m
- Mid (50 %): 24.44 ft / 7.45 m (14.60 ft / 4.45 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.60 ft / 4.45 m
- Stern: 14.60 ft / 4.45 m
- Average freeboard: 20.35 ft / 6.20 m

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 80.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 125.5 %
Waterplane Area: 24,574 Square feet or 2,283 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 129 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 111 lbs/sq ft or 541 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.41
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Miscellaneous weight

Reserved for radar and electronics suite: 250 tons
Reserved for future requirements: 50 tons

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Comments and suggestions for improvement gratefully accepted.

The design makes an interesting comparison to the historical Cleveland-Class of ships. Essentially the same main armament and displacement. However, P2 manages to ship considerably more armour and about 50% more fuel. Hence, I'm not overly convinced.

One thing the Clevelands were noted for was lack of margin for topweight. P2 seems to be in a pretty similar position, but has rather less beam to start out with.