Graf Zeppelin-The carrier that almost was

[cyberia]

It always surprises me how many who are knowledgeable about World War II swear Germany never had an aircraft carrier. Though never placed into operation, there was the Graf Zeppelin.

The Graf Zeppelin was Germany's only aircraft carrier in World War II. The ship's keel was laid in December, 1936 at Deutsche Werke shipyard in Kiel designated as Flugzeugträger "A", and launched on December 8th 1936.
It was projected that the Graf Zeppelin would be completed by the end of 1940, but it never was.

The Graf Zeppelin under construction in Kiel

By April 1940 the construction on all incomplete major surface ships was halted as the emphasis of Germany's naval construction turned to U-boats.
Construction of the Graf Zeppelin was resumed in 1942 when the Kriegsmarine realized the need for an aircraft carrier for further actions of major surface units. This time completion was projected by end 1943. However, following the battle of the Barents Sea, construction ceased with the Graf Zeppelin only about 80% completed.

The Graf Zeppelin: Launched but never completed

With a projected displacement of 28,000 tons and maximum speed of 34 knots, if completed the Graf Zeppelin would have been defended by no less than 40 twin-barreled 4.1 triple A guns and carry an estimated 48 aircraft. Including one off the most unique adaptations of the Stuka ever proposed-The Ju 87-C.

Don't let the smile fool you.
The folding wing, tailhook equipped Stuka could have been a serious threat to allied surface ships

The Graf Zeppelin met its end in April 1945. Not by Allied bombs or guns, but indecisiveness on the part of nazi leaders and well placed charges by German demolition teams. The ship was scuttled off the Vulkan shipyards of the Polish port of Stettin and sunk in shallow waters of the Baltic sea.
The Graf Zeppelin was successfully raised by the Soviet Navy in 1947, but proved too badly damaged to be salvaged.
The ship was sunk again as torpedo practice for Russian destroyers.
The wreck of the Graf Zeppelin was discovered in 2006 by Polish divers near the Bay of Gdansk.

Have a photo, info or question on a World War II fighting ship. Here's your port of call. Open a thread, reply to a post and share what you know.

cyberia

[lufttiger]

I've never seen a Stuka with folding wings, interesting.

[sniper1shot]

There were some pics of the carrier on the bottom. Can't seem to find the links right now.

[McCoy]

Those pics don't show so much as it's just 'bout the hulk.

[Aussie Dave]

Here is a interesting (But small) picture of the KMS Graf Zeppelin on the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

Cheers,
Dave

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Aussie Dave

Here is a interesting (But small) picture of the KMS Graf Zeppelin on the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

Cheers,
Dave

Very cool. Dave!

[lufttiger]

Wow Dave, where do you come up with that stuff, looks like you could land
on it right now.

[Aussie Dave]

Thanks LT,

One word: "Google"

Yeah, when it sunk it came to rest on its keel on the bottom and didn't break up like a lot of ships do when they sink.
But it does sit below the surface in only 80 meters of water and that isn't very deep really.

As for landing on it, even if it was afloat, you can see about 1/4 of the flight deck has colapsed and this might make landing on it a tad hard.

Other than that, it does appear in the photo to be in pretty good shape.


Cheers,
Dave

[Horch]

Originally Posted by lufttiger

I've never seen a Stuka with folding wings, interesting.

I never saw one either. I wonder how it stood up to the g's when diving. Snap?

[Wolster]

Interesting subject, I don't think the Graf Zepplin would have proved to be any threat at all to allied shipping though. Just for one small reason, protection. The Germans just did not have the navy to provide a proper carrier group for it to be the centre of, not with their surface fleet philosophy. And even if they did, could you imagine what the Royal Navy could assemble to deal with it? Interesting what if though!

It's best use would probably be where it ended up, in the Baltic. Or up past Norway to assist in the siege of Leningrad, but may have been to late to do anything there. No way it would be able to get in the Med and from there through to the Black Sea so not much use there.

As an aside, Revell make a 1/250 model of it which I will have to get!