Training ship "Deutschland"

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Training ship "Deutschland"

Translation of the article "Wir gratulieren der Deutschland", published in the German anthology "Schiff Classic" for 2020.
By: Frigatten Reserve Captain Hans Karr
Translation: Slug_BDMP
Pictures: https://deutschland-a59.jimdo.com

Translator's note. In Russian-language sources, this ship is often called a cruiser, there are even such "pearls": "Deutschland became the smallest German cruiser after 4385-ton Brummer and Bremse", "had too light weapons for its size (without missiles). The technical equipment was rather impractical and varied, adapted for educational purposes. " What really was this really strange, but at the same time very beautiful ship?





2020 gives two reasons to remember this ship, which was once the largest in navy Germany. 60 years ago (November 5, 1960), he left the stocks. And 30 years later (July 28, 1990) he was expelled from the Bundesmarine.

The first years of the Bundesmarine's existence were characterized by a rapid growth in the number of ships. At first, these were ships and boats inherited from the maritime border guard, then significant assistance came from new NATO partners. In parallel with this, a large-scale shipbuilding program was launched. A large number of ships and boats of various classes were built, one after another entering into service. All of them had to be manned by well trained crews. For this, the fleet needed a modern training ship. Its design and construction were included in the shipbuilding program.

Development


The military presented two main requirements to the shipbuilders:
- accommodation for 250 cadets;
- equipping the ship with the maximum possible number of weapons systems, electronic and electromechanical equipment, similar to that available on the warships of the fleet.

This was not an easy task for the designers. In addition, this, of course, led to an increase in the size of the ship, which, in turn, required a special permit from the Western European Union (WEU). Indeed, at that time the FRG had the right to build warships with a displacement of up to 3 tons.

After an official request, WEU in the fall of 1958 issued permission to build a ship with a displacement of 6 tons, the document also stipulated the parameters of the maximum speed and armament.

For a ship of this size, it seemed possible, at least in the event of war, to perform other tasks. Therefore, the development took into account the possibility of quick and inexpensive conversion into a minelayer, military transport or hospital ship.

Building




On September 17, 1959, the ship was laid down at the Nobiskrug shipyard in Rendsburg. A year later (November 5, 1960), he was launched. Initially, it was going to be called "Berlin", but for political reasons this was abandoned. And at the launching ceremony, the wife of the then President of the Federal Republic of Germany Wilhelmina Lubke named him "Deutschland" (Deutschland).



“This is not a class 1 combat ship. It is designed to fulfill the important task of training seafarers. Therefore, armament and high speed do not matter as much as the conditions that ensure the educational process ",

- so said at the launching ceremony the inspector of the Navy, Vice Admiral Friedrich Ruge.

Another two and a half years passed before the flag was raised over the Deutschland.


The project cost was 95 million marks.

Initially, "Deutschland" became part of the Command of training ships, and from October 1, 1966 until the end of his service, was transferred to the disposal of the naval school in Muervik.


Equipment and armament




The ship's propulsion system is mixed and includes diesel engines and a steam turbine. The propellers are three four-bladed variable pitch propellers. Each of the outer shafts is driven by two diesel engines, and the central one is driven by a turbine.



When designing weapons, they were guided by warships under construction.

The artillery consisted of four 100-mm guns in single-gun turrets, located in a linearly elevated position, two at the bow and at the stern of the ship.


Main caliber gun mounts. Fire control stations are above them.


They were supplemented with two single-gun 40-mm Bofors installations and two twin, as well as 40-mm Breda installations.


Anti-aircraft gun Bofors.

To combat submarines, there were two Bofors four-tube rocket launchers.


Bofors four-tube rocket launcher.

There were also devices for dropping depth charges.

Until the mid-70s, there were two fixed 533-mm torpedo tubes at the stern.

If necessary, it was possible to install 75-meter mine guides.

The electronic equipment also corresponded to that used on warships under construction.

Service


For 27 years of service, the training ship with tail number "A59" made 42 foreign voyages, during which he visited 75 countries and 230 harbors.


Astern, he left 725 nautical miles, which is approximately 000 the length of the equator.




All over the world, officers, sailors and cadets of the Deutschland ("envoys in blue") represented their country. Chancellors and presidents of the Federal Republic of Germany also made their foreign visits there.









The final


But as time went on, the ship was not getting younger, the cost of its maintenance grew. Major repairs and modernization were required, the cost of which was estimated at 40 million marks. All this led to the fact that in June 1989 a decision was made to exclude him from the fleet. In March 1990, Deutschland made her last sea voyage to the naval arsenal in Wilhelmshaven.


Farewell to Deutschland.

The struggle to preserve the honored ship began. There were projects to convert it into a museum or a floating hotel, but they were not implemented. This required very high costs of disarmament and bringing it into line with civilian standards. In addition, high operating costs were expected.

As a result, in 1993 the ship was sold for scrap and towed to the Indian Alang, where it ended its days. Since then, cadets have been trained on ordinary ships of the Bundesmarine.

Features

Class and type: Type 440

Displacement:
- standard 4 880 tons
- full 5 684 tons

Length: 130 m
Width: 16,1 m
Draft: 5,1 m

Power point:
- 2 diesel engines Mercedes-Benz and 2 diesel engines Maybach, all 16-cylinder, 4-stroke (Maybach engines replaced in 1981 with Mercedes-Benz engines) drive two external shafts
- 2 Wahodag boilers feeding 1 set of Wahodag geared steam turbines, driving the central shaft, 16 liters. from. (000 kW)
Propeller: 3 × 4-blade Escher-Wyss variable pitch propellers
- 2 steering wheels
Fuel stock: 643 tons of fuel oil and diesel fuel

Speed:
22 node

Navigation range:
3 miles at 800 knots

Boats and landing craft:
- 3 motor boats
- 3 motor boats
- 30 life rafts

Crew:
172 officers and sailors and up to 250 cadets

Electronic weapons:
- radar: LW-08, SGR-114, SGR-105, SGR-103, M-45
- Sonar ELAC 1BV

Armament:
- 4 guns Creusot-Loire caliber 100 mm / barrel length 55 calibers in single installations
- 2 × 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns in single mounts
- 2 x 40-mm twin anti-aircraft guns Breda
- 2 fixed 533-mm torpedo tubes in the aft (removed in the mid-1970s)
- 2 × Bofors four-tube 375-mm anti-submarine bombers;
Possibility to install min.

Other equipment:
- 2 taps
- 3 anchors (one at the stern, two at the bow).
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    28 comments
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    1. +19
      29 November 2020 05: 55
      good illustrations are half the article good
      and the boat is well done - it did not stand in the port, but more often saw the sea
      1. +5
        29 November 2020 06: 09
        Quote: Tlauicol
        good illustrations are half the article good
        and the boat is well done - it did not stand in the port, but more often saw the sea

        mmmda ... consider the frigate, by the standards, and if you correct the armament, then it is quite a "modern" ship for some countries.
      2. -6
        29 November 2020 07: 10
        Germany cannot have a lot of weapons, it is dangerous for its neighbors.
        1. -7
          29 November 2020 07: 16
          You can't say more precisely! Russia especially knows this! Rebirth of Germany could end with felgrau tanks!
        2. -1
          29 November 2020 11: 19
          Quote: Lech from Android.
          Germany cannot have a lot of weapons, it is dangerous for its neighbors.

          Napoleon of the Prussians managed to convince him of this.
      3. The comment was deleted.
      4. +4
        29 November 2020 11: 24
        Hinting that the text is not enough? All claims against Frigatten-Captain Carr tongue
        And the pictures on the site indicated in the "header" are a wagon.
      5. 0
        30 November 2020 07: 21
        German military trick - there are no large ships, but the crews are ready)
    2. +8
      29 November 2020 07: 06
      The namesake and predecessor of the "protagonist" of the article, the heavy cruiser "Deutschland" (1931 - 33), renamed "Luttsov" in 1940, fought, in April 1945, during a raid by allied aviation, received heavy damage and in May was blown up by the team.
      In fiction, ships (three were built in total) of this class are often called "pocket battleship", although when designing and building the Germans themselves called this type of ship - battleship (Panzerschiffe).

      The photo shows the same type as "Admiral Graf Spee".
      1. +11
        29 November 2020 11: 14
        Namesake and predecessor of the "protagonist" of the article - a training ship Deutschland (Schulschiff Deutschland) built in 1927, currently a museum ship in Bremen.
    3. -2
      29 November 2020 08: 10
      There are several questions from the photo: Hands in pockets and smoking while eating - is this the norm?
      1. +9
        29 November 2020 08: 45
        Hands in pockets are a terrible violation of discipline. The fleet is finished at once.
        1. -4
          29 November 2020 12: 01
          Well, what are you, this is a tolerant Bundesmarine, what kind of "end" if we mean the same thing. laughing
          1. +11
            29 November 2020 12: 43
            And in some charter somewhere it is written that, when photographing, a soldier must take a drill posture?
            1. +3
              29 November 2020 12: 58
              Vic, I had something else in mind, and by no means the statutory code governing the stand of a soldier when photographing him at the location of his military unit. soldier
              1. +2
                29 November 2020 13: 37
                So I asked a question to an individual with the nickname igordok.
              2. +1
                29 November 2020 17: 38
                Yes, ushsh .. Our commanders did not disdain to tear photos from soldiers if they found a photo with an unbuttoned hook or a lowered badge.
                1. +4
                  29 November 2020 17: 45
                  I was lucky, there weren't any among my immediate commanders and officers.
        2. 0
          30 November 2020 12: 41
          Well .... fewer citizens;)
      2. +7
        29 November 2020 08: 53
        Most likely during the photographing it was kapets how cold.
      3. 0
        29 November 2020 10: 49
        it's just a candlelight dinner
      4. for
        +2
        30 November 2020 21: 55
        Quote: igordok
        Hands in pockets and smoke




        And what's terrible here, hands in pockets. Well, smoking behind a tank is too much for us, but they have their own charter and their own traditions.
    4. +8
      29 November 2020 08: 15
      I really liked the article. I, as not a sailor, understood everything, but thanks to good illustrations, I saw everything. Thanks to the author.
    5. +3
      29 November 2020 16: 01
      The main thing is not the ship, but the training system for naval officers. Everything should start with training (or with the collapse of the system - this is how the goal is formulated).
    6. -2
      30 November 2020 17: 52
      Deutschland, Deutschland Huber Alles, Führer Hitler Hubermensch ...
    7. 0
      19 December 2020 22: 46
      Beautiful boat. Made a lot of equators.
    8. 0
      28 December 2020 15: 47
      write about our Borodino, Gangut, Volga. there were more boats
    9. 0
      2 February 2021 04: 39
      He would have an insert in the midsection, it would look harmonious. But this is a consequence of the tonnage limitation.
    10. 0
      21 February 2021 14: 49
      Germans are a smart nation. Everything they do, they do, is smart and reliable. Both in the military and civilian industries.

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