WoWs Cruiser Siegfried

Overview

In 1938, a decision prevailed that in addition to raider cruisers, the German Navy needed full-fledged battlecruisers equipped with heavy guns. Under the new project, the ships hull was enlarged to accommodate three gun mounts, and the caliber was increased to 380 mm. The all-diesel power plant was replaced with a combined one. In 1939, the first of the planned three ships was ordered; however, not a single battlecruiser was ever laid down due to a shortage of materials, which were being used mainly for the construction of submarines at the beginning of World War II.