As a promised follow-on to the Seydlitz and Lutzow profiles as planned in 1936 to cruiser configuration now we can close the tale.

When Seydlitz was 95 percent complete the Navy decided to convert into a carrier and dismantling begun in 1942 and was halted in June 1943. By this time the superstructure as far aft as the funnel had been removed, barbette B had been removed and fittings and light walls on the battery and tween decks in the bow section. Around 2,400 tons of material had been removed when work stopped and the ship languished until being scuttled in Konigsberg in January 1945. The Soviets planned to cannibalise the wreck to complete Lutzow (sold to them in 1940) but was instead broken up.

This profile is how she would have looked if the December 1942 plans had been carried out and she was to be renamed Weser. Armament was ten 10.5cm guns, five twin 37mm mounts and six qaud 20mm mounts. The air group was to be ten Ju-87D and ten Me-109G (none of the Ju-87C or Me-109T were left by then).


It seems to me it would have been better not to of wasted so much time and resources and instead finish the Graf Zeppelin (at this time tied up nearly complete) and leave Seydlitz in cruiser configuration given her nearly completed status. Its seems crazy to have spent so much time and materials on her only to strip her and leave her. Still it shows how disorganised the Nazi regime really was even way before the war got bad for them.

Hi Hood

Who :o

That is calling cool!! very nice!
Did youi also know the EUROPA, Potsdam, Gneisenau and Grasse, also just like your great ship!

Alex

Nazi Germany - proving what mismanagement can do on a grand scale since 1940.

Well done image though, Hood.

well when you start with a national leadership of the guano huffing insane and a world view composed of equal parts fantasy and ignorance.... you're bound to get some results that redefine "epic fail" every other Thursday.

The problem: for Germany and the World, was that you had the above being served by what was, and still is (arguably) the best military machine since Ghengis Khan. And despite the lunacy, the Nazi's came frighteningly close to succeeding. O.K. danger of a 'Troll' (folderole) here, which would not be polite on Hoods thread. May I suggest gentlemen, that if we are interested in this topic, we adjourn with cigars and port to a new thread? ;)

The cutouts in the hull could be colored in the ligther tone to mark the contrast of the depth little better IMO. Also the lifeboat should have some racsk or cranes assisting its use.

Will make the colouring changes you suggest.

The crane shown is the only one, the lifeboat (the only boat on the starbaord side so I'm assuming the others are to port?) isn't shown with davits but I'd say it would make sense. The plan is very unsure with these details.

Also why all the radars? There is one under the round-down aft and one each side of the forward flight deck abreast the catapults in addition to the others on the very tall (and sparse) tower. The aft one might some kind of landing aid but the two forward onces are exposed to alot of spray... good luck keeping those working!

Picture edited above. Better?

[QUOTE]Also why all the radars? There is one under the round-down aft and one each side of the forward flight deck abreast the catapults in addition to the others on the very tall (and sparse) tower. The aft one might some kind of landing aid but the two forward onces are exposed to alot of spray...
I think many German Radars of WW 2 were not revolving but fixed and so they needed antenas on each quarter.