Blücher

Type:
Cruiser
Class:
Admiral Hipper
Builder:
Deutsche Werke
Kiel, Germany
Pennant Number:
N/A
Ordered:
October 30, 1934
Commissioned:
September 20, 1939
Keel Laid:
August 15, 1935
Decommissioned:
N/A
Launched:
June 8, 1937
Stricken:
N/A
Fate:
Sunk April 9, 1940 by gunfire and torpedoes fired from Oscarsborg Fortress.

Location: Oslofjord near Drøbak, Norway.
(59.42N - 10.35E)

Aprox. 125 crewmen and 195 soldiers were killed.
(actual figure unknown perhaps as many as 830 in total)


Dimensions, machinery and performance

Length:
675' 5"
Engines:
3 Geared turbines by AG Wesser
Beam:
69' 9"
Boilers:
12 Wagner (Pressure 1,028 lbs.)
Draft:
25' 3"
Shafts:
3
Displacement:
14,050 Std. / 18,200 full
SHP:
132,000
Speed:
32.5 knots
Crew:
Aprox. 1,600
Range:
6,800 NM @ 20 knots


Armament
Number Carried
Type
Arrangement
Maximum Range / Ceiling
8
20.3cm/60 (8")
SK C/34

4 twin turrets
36,636 yards @ 37° (20.8 miles)
12
10.5cm/65 (4.1")
SK C/33

6 twin mounts
19,357 yards @ 45°
AA ceiling 41,010' @ 80°
12
3.7cm/57 (1.5")
M43

6 twin mounts
7,100 yards @ 45°
AA ceiling 15,750' @ 90°
4
2cm/65 (0.79") AA MG
C/30

single mounts
5,360 @ 45°
AA ceiling 12,140' @ 85° (120 RPM)
12
53.3cm (21")
Torpedo tubes
3 triple launchers
G7a T1 torpedoes (reloads unknown)
15,300 yards (8.6 miles)
30 knots
661 lb. charge
3
Arado Ar-196 aircraft

Armament changes


4 additional 2cm/65 AA guns added later. (single mounts)


Commanders
From
To
Name
Sept. 20, 1939
April 9, 1940
Kapitän zur See Heinrich Woldag


Notes
Building cost was 87.8 million RM.


Class Overview
Builder's Data
Page published Oct. 22, 2008