Was Germany still a first rate naval power in 1942? Original British intelligence assessment

In April 1939 the German fleet entered the Channel in route for exercises in Spanish waters. At a time when European crisis was almost a weekly affaire. It served to remind even the most complacent that Nazi Germany was once again entitled to rank as a primary naval power.

The force which moved up the Channel consisted of submarines as well as surface fighting vessels. In those days most interest focused on the 3, 10000 ton pocket battleships Lutzow, then called Deutschland, Admiral Scheer and the Cruiser Admiral Graf Spee.

We were at peace then, and as it's difficult really to study the ships when they are in motion perhaps we can persuade the captain to help us. Captain, would you mind? Thanks.

The first of these was the Lutzow, easily recognized by the stout military pole-mast and the catapult between the pole-mast and single funnel.

Originally, both the Admiral Graf Spee and Admiral Scheer had a mid ship tower in place of the foremast. This is the Spee. She differers only slightly from the Scheer, the lower thick armor belt being lower is one of the main differences. For on the Scheer the belt is less prominent and extends further up the side. For that reason she might prove a tougher job than the Spee. Lately much of her pyramid tower has been removed, she now resembles the Lutzow more closely.

The stories of the invincibility of these ships were current even in 1939. But a complete answer to the Nazi boasts was given a few months later when the Admiral Graf Spee fled into Montevideo Harbor after merciless battering by Admiral Harwoods squadron. Outside of the estuary the British cruisers waited for the German ship, her fighting efficiency evidently unimpaired sailed to an ignoble end at the hands of her own crew.

The 6000 ton K-class cruisers have faired little better than the Spee. Of the 3 ships, only the Koln remains afloat, recognizable by the main-mast mounted on her after funnel and it's two tripple turrets.

Among other surface ships the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau have given us the most trouble. These pictures were taken when the two 26000 ton battle cruisers were at sea playing their part during the Battle of the Atlantic. This is the Gneisenau. Originally it was easy to tell the two ships apart because the Scharnhorst had a straight stem while that of the Gneisenau, as you can see was cut away. The Scharnhorst has now been modified and resembles her sister ship in this respect. The main difference now is that the Gneisenau carries a mast on her funnel while that of the Scharnhorst is of the tripod type and situated much further aft. It goes without saying that the two raiders caused considerable damage to the British merchant shipping.

They were soon located and then began the merciless air attacks by British aircraft which have gone on ever since. Here our planes are attacking the Gneisenau as she shelters in Tranium. With the heavy cruiser Hipper, which by the way is like a smaller version of the Terpiz.

While on their cruise, arial recon. was used extensively by the cruisers. Each ship carried 4 Arado 196 float planes. Capable of 180 knots, the Arado is a neat, low wing mono-plane with a single radial engine. Some of these planes have a large single float under the fuselage and two smaller ones at the wingtips, but this is the more usual type. Another seaplane in service is the Heinkel 114 that was designed to specifications similar to that of the Arado. It wasn't so successful however and is now chiefely used from shore bases.

Other attempts by Hitler to use his big ships as commerce raiders was unsuccessful. He proudly launched the battle ship Bismarck in Feb 1939 but the smile was off his face by May 1941 when this ship was sent to the bottom on its first attempt at Atlantic raiding. The heavy cruiser Prinz Eugene, launched in 1938 which had escorted the battle ship fled to Brest.

When the Terpiz went down the slipway in the April before the war broke out there was a technical hitch. All Hitler's commands and treaties failed to move her until she was ready.

The failure of the surface ships resulted in an intensified U-Boot campaign carried out with typical Nazi ferocity. 3 main types of U-Boots are used by the German navy. The largest is the 740,000 ton ocean going type. They mount a 4.1" gun well forward of the conning tower. The forward mounting of this gun forms the most outstanding recognition feature.

In the 517 ton sea going type, the gun is a 3.5" caliber and mounted much nearer the conning tower. We are taking an ever increasing toll on Hitler's underwater fleet. The majority of casualties are completely destroyed but this one was brought into port intact. The first one to be captured by an RAF recon. plane. She too is of the 517 ton class and she was brought in wearing the white ensign, probably the greatest honor that will ever be granted U-Boot.....