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"Graf Zeppelin"
Reports of the start of construction in Germany two AV, first appeared in a naval press in 1936, immediately aroused among conflicting evaluations. An analysis published in the press features built the first German AV leads to the conclusion that the current doctrine of the German fleet provides the opportunity to participate ship on Artillery battle with the enemy, not only in situations where guns used for self-defense. Arming ship sixteen 150-mm guns was one of the obvious characteristics of the German Banking, for the artillery power of superior light cruisers German fleet. In the second half of 1930. This focus has caused among supporters of the American concept of AV, to minimize attention to its aviation arm and the preservation of only medium anti-aircraft artillery fire only in self-defense, nastorozhennoe surprise. Even more, they would be surprised to learn that the Germans originally wanted to equip its AV heavy artillery cruiser - eight 203-mm guns. Note that the Americans are in the early 1920's. received exactly the same with their type of aircraft carriers Lexington, but these boats are known, dostraivalis in a new capacity of the line cruisers, so were the exception to the rule. However, artillery weapons German AV, like other TTE ship, strictly kept secret, were unknown in the West.
Home Works Design AB in Germany related to winter 1933/1934 estimates. When made tactical and technical requirements (TTM): displacement of approximately 20 thousand tons, the speed of full speed 33 knots, 50-60 aircraft, eight 203-mm artillery shells, powerful air defense weapons, the defense - Standards for light cruisers.
Draft design under the guidance of engineer-German shipbuilder Naval V. Hedelera (W. Hedeler) was carried out during 1934, in the process, it was decided to replace the heavy 203-mm artillery shells at the 150-mm anti-aircraft artillery to take the number ten barrels caliber 105 mm heavy machine guns, and increase speed to 35 knots. Standard AV displacement of 23 thousand tons Apparently, already in the project were laid out the basic solutions that distinguish it from foreign counterparts. These include the "cruising" armor deck with skosami, meaningful inclusion of the flight deck to the overall strength of the shell and the extent of vertical reservation for a variable length of the shell thickness. The choice of two-tier scheme hangars are determined by the number placed in the aircraft.
Introducing the fall of 1935 with the Japanese Akagi and the study from the Japanese technical documentation for the Aircraft ship rezultirovalos in appearance to the German AV third - the average samoletopodemnika.
The overall architectural layout of the German AV appears fairly traditional: Overcast flight deck with a bow and stern svesami console, shift to the right add-in board - "island" with passing through it gazohodami main boiler, open layout of the tank and Utah, which occupies a large portion of the hull above water level of two-tier hangar.
Welded body length of the ship KVL 250,0 m and a height of 22.2 meters divided side of the main transverse bulkheads, will reach deck angarnoy, at 19 watertight compartments.
Typical for German ships circuit protection device by armored deck with thickened skosami (40 and 60 mm respectively) and a narrow belt maximum thickness of 100 mm, located on the KVL in the area of the ICE, has been used and the AV. The thickness of the top (flight) deck was 20 mm. By booking protection mechanical installations, German designers seemed to have left the high freeboard, which was vulnerable hangar, almost naked. However, part of the infiltration of enemy projectiles upper hangar should protect located on the board polusponsonah in armored 30-mm artillery casemate armor installation of 150-mm caliber, and partly - limiting the hangar with beads strong longitudinal bulkhead thickness of 30 mm.
The most interesting project in the German AV was actually "air" part. Start deck machinery, as opposed to foreign practices to be carried out solely by means of two located in the bow of the flight deck polispastno-pneumatic catapult. Catapult K-252 with a rolling farm construction plant "Deutsche Werke" provided four launch without charging the air cylinders.
Covered prefabricated 50-mm tikovyh bars flight deck has a length of 241.0 meters, width of 30.7 meters and communicate with upper and lower hangar three electric elevators located on the same axis slightly off-center line to the left side. The forward and middle elevators, which took two octagonal cargo platform to simultaneously move planes from the two hangars, and the stern - only from the top. In the fore and aft flight deck elevators were ABP, two additional elevators were running in a hangar (for repairs), aircraft engines and start carts. From the cellar in the lower hangar ABP is supplied by special lifts, while the top - just samoletopodemnikami.
A special feature is the use of airstrips operations start carts, which are planted in the aircraft hangar, and with them filed by flight deck. On the platform elevator on rails truck with a pulling force plane propeller or through deck spire moved to a catapult. After the launch aircraft through special cart slanted chain conveyors, located in the nose sections flight deck, falls on angarnuyu deck and the monorail transported in a hangar. Elevator to be used in case of failure of an inclined conveyors.
For the protection of aircraft on the deck of the side wind were special vetrootboynye shields raised in a vertical position by means of a simple electric screw drive for a few seconds. Landing aircraft were to provide four aerofinishera, cables which were sent to the block system installed on the intermediate deck winches brake. For landing the aircraft in terms of reduced visibility flight deck equipped indicating the dimensions of a landing strip electric canopy set flush with a wooden prefabricated.
Domestic appliance hangar, construction of benzo-and oil, fire-fighting equipment German ship differed by several notable original technical solutions, among which are the fastest flame retardants curtains, transportation systems, original trucks and aircraft engines, fuel and maslozapravochnye column in the hangar.
The total capacity of the aviation fuel tanks located in two vaults in the bow of the ship's hull, exceeded 330 thousand liters. Fuel and oil (as well as ammunition suspension) was to be made in the hangar equipped with filling posts. Such positions are included and on the flight deck.
GEU ship, in accordance with the applicable standards of the German Navy, without much hesitation was chosen paroturbinnoy at elevated steam. Required for Development of the full 200 thousand hp divided into four shafts, which were to result in the rotation GTZA full design capacity of 50 thousand hp Each unit is supplied with steam (75 atm., 450 deg. C) four boiler type La Mont capacity of 50 tons per hour. Cruising heating fuel in 6500 tonnes was sufficient for the range six thousand miles economic progress. An interesting feature of the German technical AV is the use of two "Voit-Schnaider" - krylchatyh propeller-to improve the manageability is more lateral ship in small moves.
Orders for AV "A" standard displacement of 24,114 tons has been issued firm Deutsche Werke Kiel 16 Nov., 1935 Bookmark AV under the manufacturer's number 252 on the stocks number 1 was 28 Dec, 1936 Two years later, on 8 December 1938, an official ceremony lowering the ship in the water, which was attended by senior leaders of Reich - Hitler and Göring. On that day, AV received the title - his okrestila in honor of his famous father Countess Hella von Brandenshtein-Zeppelin (Hella von Brandenstein-Zeppelin).
One of the main obstacles to the German first AV was the creation of deck aircraft - reyhsministr Aviation G. Gering, seeing strong desire to get Admiral Raeder deck aircraft (and "together" - and subjugate the Navy maritime aircraft) threatens its monopoly, of course, did not show in This no interest. His cruise was a famous expression: "Everything that flies - my!" Nevertheless, in the 1938-1939 biennium. has been flight-tested fighter-biplane "Arado-197" is a development "Arado-68. Finally the role of deck fighters had been approved "Me-109T", and decked shturmovikom planned "Junkers-87C". Five cars "Junkers-87S, emerging-equipped planes were manufactured and tested in flight-testing" Luftwaffe "in Travemünde. As a multipurpose aircraft (scouts and light bombers, torpedonostsev) Germany purport to use "Fieseler 167" and "Arado 195", built in test samples.
Change in the process of construction of aviagruppy AV on a schedule for March 1941 was to include a multipurpose aircraft twenty-Fi 167, ten fighters Me 109T (Bf 109T) and thirteen dive bomber Ju 87C. Aviagruppa positioned as follows: 18 planes - in the bottom hangar, the remaining 25 - at the top.
Spuschenny water «Graf Zeppelin» at the start of the war have already reached 85% readiness. Initiated the formation of the crew and aviagruppy V/41.
At the end of April 1940 at the suggestion of Chief of Navy work on the completion of AV stop, 150-mm artillery shells demontiruyutsya and shipped to Norway - to strengthen the coastal defense. 6 July, 1940 tugs moved «Graf Zeppelin» in Gotenhafen, where it was used as a floating warehouse. Before the attack on the Soviet Union, fearing possible attack, soviet aviation care owners towed it Shttetin - «Graf Zeppelin» otshvartovali there on June 21. Upon being satisfied in their unfounded fears, in November the Germans moved the ship back to Gotenhafen, where he prostoyal until spring 1942
16 Apr., 1942 Fuhrer decides to resume the completion of «Graf Zeppelin».
With regard to the risk of air transfer of the ship in Kiel was postponed for the time it found a pair of three 37-mm and two schetverennyh 40-mm anti-aircraft machine, anti-aircraft searchlights. Only 30 Nov., 1942, three tug brought «Graf Zeppelin» in the sea, and Dec. 5 in the escort of three tralschikov and six patrol boats «Graf Zeppelin» safely arrived in Kiel, where he was immediately placed in the 40000-ton floating dock and began to work. However, 30 January, 1943 was followed by a new Hitler's order - to stop completion of ... Admiral Raeder commented on the event, calling the implications of the decision Führer "the cheapest in the history of England victory at sea." 21 Apr, 1943 «Graf Zeppelin» transferred to Shtettin, where he prostoyal before the end of the war.
By April 1945, the state of the AV characterized as follows: artvooruzhenie it lacked, mounting devices and equipment controllers shooting is not finished; electrical equipment installed only in part, as well as special aviation technical devices.
At the time of the attack on the town of Soviet troops «Graf Zeppelin» was protoke Monnet of the Oder River. At 18.00 24 Apr, 1945 Senior Marine Chief Shtettina captain Tzur See V. Kahler (W. Kahler) lost radio ordered a special team to track AE. Explosions laid very competently charges resulted in the complete destruction of the use and restoration of the main turbines, electric generators, samoletopodemniki. By the time the entry of Soviet troops into the city through small holes, cracks and outside of looseness in the internal compartments of the shell penetrated AV outboard water, and therefore the ship was in pritoplennom condition.
In summer by the emergency services CBF boat was raised, August 19, unfinished and mutilated German AV enroll in the Soviet Navy - as a battle trophy.
Shortly after the signing of an act of capitulation of Germany in World War II Potsdam Conference was held three powers - victorious. Among the outcomes of this conference and this: "suitable to the use of the German Navy surface ships, including vessels, which can be brought into the state of fitness during a specified time, along with thirty submarine will be equally divided between the three powers. The balance of the German fleet will be destroyed." 23 January, 1946 newspaper Pravda published an Anglo-Soviet-US communiqués, news and appoint a tripartite naval commission.
Bought the USSR as a result of the drawing «Graf Zeppelin» into the group "C" - flooded, damaged or unfinished ships to bring in readiness by means of German shipyards needed repairs for over half a year.
Triple commission made recommendations, according to which all the warships of the "S" in a timely manner to be destroyed by flooding, deep or disassembled for the metal.
In 1947 the decision number 601 Government "On the destruction in 1947 of former German ships category" C ". At the suggestion of a new Navy Command of the Soviet Union, these ships, it was decided to use for experiments to study the combat survivability (just came from captured ships Allies valuable practical experience was received by the Americans as a result of the bombing of a German battleship "Ostfriesland" even after the First World War).
Eradication «Graf Zeppelin» made available TSNIIVK to be held in a maximum-military scientific and practical effect. For this purpose a special commission chaired by Vice Admiral J. F. Rally, responsible for sinking AV to test the impact on its aerial bombs, torpedoes and artsnaryadov in the so-called "static" (undermining the pre-deployed weapons) and dynamic "(the actual shooting and bombing) options. It was anticipated that the first AV will be undermined in advance laid bombs and artsnaryady different caliber, then he will be subjected to bombing by aircraft, shot guns from the main fire cruisers, and finally complete the case lihie "torpednye attack surface ships. Plan also undermine the mines at various depths and disposal. In between versions of this scenario, a group of military scientists had to make measurements, calculations and checks of korablja with minimal action to restore its survivability (for example, running pumps for pumping water).
The program tests attributed to the 4 th Navy.
By the time this decision «Graf Zeppelin» was not in the best of its state - even from the unfinished postroechnogo. By 17 August, 1945 the ship was examined in the VMB Shtettin 77 th otryadom ASS CBF. «Graf Zeppelin» lying (or rather, "stood") on the ground without a trim, with a slight krenom to starboard. All the turbines, boilers and auxiliary power the ship were frustrated Germans in the explosion were destroyed and watertight bulkheads. There was underwater hole measuring 0.8 by 0.3 meters and crack length of approximately 0.3 meters screw propellers were removed from the shaft and stacked on the flight deck (to reduce the electrochemical corrosion of the shell). Samoletopodemniki were also shattered in the area after the lift in the flight deck there was a large crater with an arrow deflection 0.2 m. The prefabricated flight deck were other, less extensive bruising from the shells hit.
The rise of «Graf Zeppelin» made simple otkachkoy water motopompami with pre-injection underwater holes and cracks. Surface hole in the hull and broken windows breaks, however, impairing the watertight decks because of heavy workload and lack of time to restore it was not possible.
After that, «Graf Zeppelin» towed in Svinemyunde. When the night of 15 to 16 August, the ship arrived in a given square, it became clear that the bower of a precipice yakortsepi (which proved defective link), his place will not be, and put Admiralty lightweight anchor (small kedge) only limits AV drift slightly. This is seen, had a decisive influence on the entire testing program.
The morning of August 16, the test surface exposure of ammunition. First, at the same time undermined the previously laid FAB-1000 (in the chimney), three-FAB-100 and two 180-mm artsnaryada under the flight deck (FAB - explosive bomb with the index of weight-caliber kilograms). During the second detonation blew up another FAB-1000 on the flight deck. The third series while undermining was the simultaneous detonation of FAB-250 and two 180-mm shells.
After the first series of explosions was carried out air bombardment AV aircraft. To perform this task provided 39 crew 12 th Guards aviation 8 th mine aviadivizii and 25 torpedo planes Pe-2 - all available in good aircraft regiment. Two nine planes bombed the signal lead in the chain, as part of Pe-2 attacked the goal individually. Impacts provide two types of "Catalina", one of which, being on purpose, makes it striking force, and the second worked in search and rescue version. In addition - shock management teams and has yet to "Volyntsa", and on the deck of "victim" had been painted white cross of 20 to 20 m in width of five meters
First atakuyuschaya group attacked from a height of 2070 meters and dropped 28 bombs, the second - roughly the same height, dropped 36, and the third (individual bombing), "unload" 24 bombs. Three planes had dropped bombs in the sea accident. The result of the bombing on nearly stationary, defenseless and not the little ship has been "impressive": a hundred bombs on target came only six, and found in the deck managed only five hits. Pilots also insisted on the eleven, believing that some bombs hit the already devastated by previous erosion of their seats. Either way, but the bombing of AV in terms of survivability has nothing: P-50 bombs were too low and do not cause significant damage, except vmyatin in the deck depth 5-10 see the truth, one of the bombs made holes in Bule diameter of about 1 m. To combat training "Stalin's Falcon attack« Graf Zeppelin »were too site and apparently little instructive: air defense, understandably, has not been carried out pathfinder freely" roam "on purpose, the height of the bombing is consistent with the zone of dense anti-aircraft fire.
This program is "static" surface testing has been completed, started preparations for a test under the influence of underwater weapons. However, on 17 August began a gradual deterioration in the weather - the strengthening of excitement to three points (wind - 5-6 points) - and began to drift into AV shallow area. There is a real danger that it will not be light at a decent depth (in the early tests it was 113 meters and the end of the first phase - already 82 meters). Vice Admiral J. F. Rald took an independent decision to stop testing and quickly dobit AV torpedoes surface ships. Therefore, from the Baltic were caused by the torpedo boat (like "Elko") TK-248, TK-425 and TK-503, as well as destroyers "glorious", "strict" and "slim". The first boat arrived in AV. The attack TK-248 was unsuccessful - shot, failed to explode, was held under the keel AV. After 15 minutes, TK-503 came torpedoy to starboard. Construction bulya explosion destroyed, but is it belt was intact. An hour went destroyers, "glorious" torpedo shot again in the starboard has hit. «Graf Zeppelin» began to slowly fall to starboard, a quarter of an hour roll reached 25 degrees. At the same time increased the trim on the nose. After another eight minutes (after 23 minutes after the second torpedo explosion) «Graf Zeppelin» krenom to 90 degrees. and the trim on the nose 25 degrees. disappeared from the surface of the sea.
Options:
Length: 251.5 m
Width: 31.3 m
Displacement: 28,100 tons
Draft: 5.6 m
Crew: 1760
Speed: 32 knots
Guns: 16 152 mm 12 104 mm
Anti-aircraft guns: 22 37 mm 28 Erlikon
Planes: 40
Attached Image: 1.jpg
