GRAF ZEPPELIN

German Kreigsmarine

Class……………………………Graf Zeppelin Aircraft Carrier

Builder……………………….. Deutsche Werke, Kiel

Yard number……………….252

Laid down..………………….28 Dec 1936

Launched….…………………8 Dec 1938

Completed.………………….30 Jan 1943 (Work on incomplete vessel SUSPENDED)

Propulsion.…………………..4 shafts : 4 sets Brown-Boveri geared steam turbines, 16 La Mont boilers

Speed..…………………………33.8 knots (Designed)

Range…………………………..8000 nm at 19 knots (Designed)

Fate

Aircraft carrier laid down under the identification letter "A", subsequently named Graf Zeppelin, was laid down on Deutsche Werke in Kiel and launched in 1938.

By the beginning of war build state of Graf Zeppelin was estimated as 85% completed.

29 April 1940: Completion have suspended.

13 May 1942: Resumption of work on Graf Zeppelin was ordered, ship was towed to Kiel, where she received new asymmetrical bulges, designed speed was decreased to 33.8kts.

30 January 1943: Construction was again halted.

April 1943: Vessel was towed to Stettin.

January 1945: Incomplete ship (with 92% completed) was scuttled by Germans .

Summer 1945 : Soviet engineers salvaged the vessel.

19 August 1945: She was taken into Soviet Navy but never completed,

16 August 1947 used as target for torpedo bombers and 18.8.1947 sunk by destroyer Slavnyy and MTB TK-503.

 

GRAF ZEPPELIN on her launch day 8 December 1938 at Deutsche Werke, Kiel

 

Done