SMS Derfflinger Battlecruiser (Iron Dog of Jutland!)
IRON DOG - 1914 Jutland Legend! - 3 ships: SMS DERFFLINGER (Iron Dog!), SMS LÜTZOW (sunk Jutland), SMS Hindenburg (missed Jutland). 26,600 tons, 26.5 kts, 8× 30.5cm (12") guns in 4× twin superfiring turrets (2+2 layout). 300mm belt, 270mm turrets (thick for BC!). BEST GERMAN WWI BATTLECRUISER! Derfflinger: IRON DOG OF JUTLAND! Hit by 17 large-caliber shells + medium shells! DESTROYED HMS QUEEN MARY (magazine explosion, 1,266 dead, 18 survivors!)! Contributed to HMS Invincible destruction! Survived incredible punishment (157 casualties but SAVED!). British called her "IRON DOG" for toughness! Lützow: SUNK AT JUTLAND! (Hipper's flagship). Hit by 24 shells! Bow flooded, torpedoed by own destroyers (June 1, 1916). Hindenburg: Commissioned May 1917 (too late!). All scuttled Scapa Flow 1919. TESTAMENT TO GERMAN ARMOR EXCELLENCE!
Specifications
- Displacement (std)
- 26600 t
- Displacement (full)
- 30700 t
- Length
- 690.3 ft
- Beam
- 95.1 ft
- Crew
- 1112
- Ships built
- 3
- Commissioned
- 1914-1917
- Decommissioned
- 1919 (All scuttled at Scapa Flow!)
Performance
- Top speed
- 26.5 kn
- Range
- 5600 nm at 14 knots
Armament
- Main guns
- "8× 30.5cm SK L/50 guns" (4× twin turrets - 12-INCH!)
- Secondary guns
- "12× 15cm SK L/45 guns" (casemates)
- Torpedoes
- 4× 50cm torpedo tubes
Armor & Systems
- Belt
- 300mm (11.8 inches - THICK for battlecruiser!)
- Deck
- 60mm
- Fire control
- Advanced optical rangefinders, centralized fire control
In-Game
- Tier
- T3
- Game power
- 39.37
- Research cost
- 7,795
- Credit cost
- 27,559
Notable
- **IRON DOG OF JUTLAND!** (Survived 17+ large-caliber hits!)
- **DESTROYED HMS QUEEN MARY!** (1,266 dead, 18 survivors!)
- **BEST GERMAN WWI BATTLECRUISER!** (Design excellence!)
- 26,600 tons standard, 30,700 tons full load
- 3 ships built (Derfflinger, Lützow, Hindenburg)
- 8× 30.5cm (12") guns in 4× twin superfiring turrets (2+2 layout)
- 26.5 knots maximum speed (76,634 shp turbines)
- 5,600 nm range at 14 knots
- Thick armor for battlecruiser: 300mm belt, 270mm turrets
- Commissioned 1914-1917 (Derfflinger first: September 1, 1914)
- All-centerline superfiring layout (optimal design!)
- Better protected than British battlecruisers
- Considered best German WWI battlecruiser design
- **Derfflinger: IRON DOG OF JUTLAND!**
- Derfflinger: Hit by **17 large-caliber shells** + medium shells!
- Derfflinger: **Destroyed HMS Queen Mary** (magazine explosion!)
- Derfflinger: Contributed to destruction of HMS Invincible!
- Derfflinger: Survived incredible punishment (157 casualties but saved!)
- British called her "IRON DOG" for toughness!
- **Lützow: SUNK AT JUTLAND!** (Admiral Hipper's flagship)
- Lützow: Hit by **24 large-caliber shells** (devastating!)
- Lützow: Bow flooded, torpedoed by own destroyers (June 1, 1916)
- **HMS Queen Mary**: Magazine explosion, broke in half, 90 seconds!
- Beatty quote: "There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today!"
- Hindenburg: Commissioned May 10, 1917 (missed Jutland!)
- All scuttled at Scapa Flow (June 21, 1919)
- Derfflinger raised 1939, scrapped 1946
- Testament to German armor & damage control excellence!