D.K.M. Köln
1940
(Neptun 1042TS)
- Class: Königsberg - 3 light cruisers of 1926
- Displacement: 6,650 tons
- Dimensions: 554 (wl) 571 (oa) x 50 x 18 ft
- Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 68,000 SHP plus 2 diesels, 1,800 BHP for cruising = 32 knots
- Armor: Side 3-4in, turrets 3in, CT 3in
- Armament: 9-5.9in (3x3), 6-3.5in AA (3x2), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 4-20mm AA (2x1) guns; 12-21in (4x3) TT
- Complement: 820
- Builder: Marinewerft-Wilhelmshaven
- Laid Down: 7 Aug 1926
- Launched: 23 May 1928
- Completed: 15 Jan 1930
- Actions: Employed for foreign training cruises; deployed to Spanish waters during Spanish Civil War, 1936-39. Carried out minelaying in North Sea in Sep 1939 followed by patrols in Skagerrak in Oct. Participated in Norwegian campaign Apr 1940. Allocated to training duties in Baltic. Participated in capture of the Baltic islands Oct 1941 during invasion of Russia. Transferred to Norway in Jul 1942, but with little activity, returned home Feb 1943. Paid off and used as accomodation ship at Kiel. Recommissioned Apr 1944 during refit at Königsberg and returned to training duties. Ordered to Skagerrak as flagship FdZ (Flag Officer, Destroyers) for minelaying duties, but damage from bomb near misses sent her to Wilhelmshaven for refit in early 1945. Hit by bombs from USAAF B-24 raid on Mar 30 and sunk with her decks awash. Although paid off, her turrets were manned to engage approaching Allied forces up to 3 May. Wreck scrapped postwar.
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