Graf Zeppelin Aircraft Carrier
Germany's Famous Unfinished Carrier! - 1 boat: GRAF ZEPPELIN - 85% COMPLETE but NEVER COMMISSIONED! Germany's closest approach to carrier aviation. 33,550 tons, 33.8 kts, 42 aircraft (12 Bf 109T fighters + 30 Ju 87C Stuka dive bombers). UNIQUE DUAL-PURPOSE DESIGN with 16× 15cm guns (HEAVIEST carrier armament ever planned!) combining carrier and cruiser roles. Armored flight deck (60mm), cruiser-level belt armor (100mm). Keel laid Dec 28, 1936, launched Dec 8, 1938 by Countess Hella von Brandenstein-Zeppelin. Construction suspended April 1940 (Norwegian campaign priority), briefly resumed 1942-1943, then abandoned. Hitler ordered scrapping January 1943 (U-boat priority). Scuttled April 25, 1945 to prevent Soviet capture. Wreck found in Baltic Sea near Władysławowo, Poland. NEVER COMMISSIONED - represents one of WWII's great "what ifs"!
Specifications
- Displacement (std)
- 33550 t
- Displacement (full)
- 33550 t
- Length
- 861.2 ft
- Beam
- 118.8 ft
- Crew
- 1760 (planned)
- Ships built
- 1 (85% complete, never commissioned!)
- Commissioned
- Never (construction suspended 1940)
- Decommissioned
- Scuttled April 25, 1945
Performance
- Top speed
- 33.8 kn
- Range
- 8000 nm at 19 knots
Armament
- Main guns
- "16× 15cm SK C/28 guns" (HEAVY carrier armament!)
- Secondary guns
- 12× 10.5cm SK C/33 AA guns
- Torpedoes
- None
Armor & Systems
- Belt
- 60-100mm (cruiser-level armor!)
- Deck
- 60mm flight deck armor
- Fire control
- Advanced German fire control systems
In-Game
- Tier
- T3
- Game power
- 57.78
- Research cost
- 11,440
- Credit cost
- 40,446
Notable
- GERMANY'S ONLY CARRIER TO REACH 85% COMPLETION!
- "85% Complete" special ability (+30% capability if completed, UNIQUE!)
- FAMOUS UNFINISHED CARRIER! (most complete Axis carrier never commissioned!)
- Launched December 8, 1938 (Countess Hella von Brandenstein-Zeppelin!)
- UNIQUE DUAL-PURPOSE DESIGN! (carrier + cruiser!)
- 16× 15CM GUNS! (heaviest carrier armament ever planned!)
- 60mm armored flight deck! (British-style protection)
- 100mm belt armor! (cruiser-level protection)
- 42 aircraft planned (12 Bf 109T fighters + 30 Ju 87C Stukas!)
- Bf 109T: Carrier-adapted Messerschmitt with folding wings, arresting hook
- Ju 87C: Carrier-adapted Stuka dive bomber (proven dive-bombing!)
- Construction suspended April 1940 (Norwegian campaign priority)
- Hitler ordered scrapping January 1943 (U-boat resource priority)
- Scuttled April 25, 1945 (prevent Soviet capture!)
- NEVER COMMISSIONED! (closest Germany came to carrier aviation)
- Found as wreck in Baltic Sea (Władysławowo, Poland)
- Influenced post-war Soviet carrier studies