Cruiser Admiral Hipper

Cruiser Admiral Hipper was a Kriegsmarine Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser named after Franz von Hipper, a World War I German Admiral. The ship was built at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg, with construction beginning in July 1935 and launching in February 1937. The Cruiser Admiral Hipper was commissioned into the Kriegsmarine in April 1939, under the command of Captain Hellmuth Heye, and was one of the five Admiral Hipper-class cruisers, including Blücher, Prinz Eugen, Seydlitz, and Lützow. The ship's design was influenced by the Treaty of Versailles and the London Naval Treaty, which imposed restrictions on the size and armament of warships.

● Design and Construction

The Cruiser Admiral Hipper was designed to be a heavy cruiser, with a displacement of over 14,000 tons and a main armament of eight 15 cm guns. The ship's design was based on the Deutschland-class pocket battleships, but with a more conventional cruiser design, featuring a mix of turrets and casemates for its main armament. The ship was powered by three Blohm+Voss steam turbines, which provided a top speed of over 32 knots. The Cruiser Admiral Hipper was also equipped with a range of anti-aircraft guns, including 10.5 cm and 3.7 cm guns, as well as torpedo tubes and mines. The ship's construction was overseen by the Reichsmarine and the Kriegsmarine, with input from Germaniawerft and Deschimag.

● Career

The Cruiser Admiral Hipper began its career in the Baltic Sea, where it was used for training and testing purposes. In 1939, the ship participated in a fleet review in Kiel, where it was inspected by Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi officials. The ship also made several visits to foreign ports, including Copenhagen and Stockholm, where it was met with interest and curiosity by the local populations. The Cruiser Admiral Hipper was commanded by several notable officers, including Captain Wilhelm Meisel and Captain Hans Hartmann, who would later go on to command other notable Kriegsmarine ships, such as the Bismarck and the Tirpitz. The ship's crew included many experienced sailors and officers, who had previously served on other Kriegsmarine ships, such as the Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst.

● Operational History

The Cruiser Admiral Hipper played a significant role in several major World War II operations, including the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of the Atlantic. In 1940, the ship participated in the Operation Weserübung, the German invasion of Norway, where it was used to support the landing of German Army troops. The ship also participated in several convoy operations, including the PQ 17 convoy, where it was used to attack and sink Allied ships. The Cruiser Admiral Hipper was also involved in several notable battles, including the Battle of the Barents Sea and the Battle of the North Cape, where it was used to attack and sink Royal Navy ships, such as the HMS Sheffield and the HMS Jamaica. The ship's operations were often coordinated with other Kriegsmarine ships, such as the U-boats and the Schnellboots, as well as with the Luftwaffe.

● Fate

The Cruiser Admiral Hipper was eventually scuttled in Kiel in May 1945, as Allied forces closed in on the city. The ship was salvaged after the war and scrapped in 1948. The Cruiser Admiral Hipper's legacy is still remembered today, with several museums and memorials dedicated to the ship and its crew. The ship's story has also been told in several books and films, including The Battle of the Atlantic and Das Boot. The Cruiser Admiral Hipper's history is closely tied to that of other notable Kriegsmarine ships, such as the Bismarck and the Tirpitz, as well as to the history of the Kriegsmarine and the Nazi Party.

● Specifications

The Cruiser Admiral Hipper had a displacement of 14,050 tons and a length of 205.9 meters. The ship was powered by three Blohm+Voss steam turbines, which provided a top speed of over 32 knots. The ship's main armament consisted of eight 15 cm guns, which were mounted in four turrets. The ship also had a range of anti-aircraft guns, including 10.5 cm and 3.7 cm guns, as well as torpedo tubes and mines. The Cruiser Admiral Hipper had a crew of over 1,600 men, who were responsible for operating and maintaining the ship. The ship's specifications were similar to those of other Admiral Hipper-class cruisers, such as the Blücher and the Prinz Eugen.

Category:World War II German ships