SMS Hindenburg

According to the 1913 program, the large cruiser was planned to replace the Hertha armored cruiser , therefore, before launching and getting its own name, it passed through documents as the Ersatz Hertha. It was supposed to be the third ship of the Derflinger type, but they decided to make a number of changes to the design. Therefore, in some works on the history of the fleet, it stands out as a separate type ^{[approx. 1]} . Design work for the new cruiser went from May to October 1912. The appropriations for the building were approved by the Reichstag in 1913 ^[1] .

Corps

Compared with the Derflinger, the displacement increased by 300 tons - the normal displacement reached 26,947 tons and the total displacement - 31,500 tons. The cruiser had a longer stern, due to which the length between the perpendiculars increased to 212.8 m, and along the waterline - to 212.5 m. The case, like the Luttsovo , was divided into 17 watertight compartments. The double bottom extended to 65% of the length of the ship ^{[1] [2]} .

Compared to the British battlecruisers, the Hindenburg received a more powerful reservation. The main differences were that the German cruisers were originally planned for a linear battle, so the seaworthiness and ease of living of the crew were sacrificed. So, when comparing with the British "Tiger" it can be seen that the reservation was strengthened due to the lower weight of the hull and power plant. To increase seaworthiness, the Tiger had a higher side. In addition to this, the Hindenburg used a mixed case power pack, which made it easier. Despite the lower weight of the power plant, due to the use of boilers with small diameter pipes, the speed of both ships was comparable. The German 305-mm guns were slightly lighter and weaker than the British 343-mm guns, but the Hindenburg in the end turned out to be much more balanced according to the “defense / attack” criterion.

The experience of military operations was taken into account, so anti-torpedo nets were not installed. But the " Achilles' heel " remained in its place - not covered by an anti-torpedo bulkhead, a large compartment of on-board torpedo tubes, which caused the death of Luttsov. External differences from the Derflinger were a tripod mast with less widely spaced racks, chimneys not elongated for a quarter with elongations at the ends. Spotlights were moved to the side platforms of the tripod mast ^[4] .

At different times, the crew totaled from 1112 to 1182 people ^[4] .

Booking

Booking has not undergone significant changes. It was made of Krupp's cemented armor . The main armor belt 300 mm thick gradually narrowed to 220 mm near the upper deck (on the Derflinger up to 230 mm). Behind Tower A, the nose belt was enlarged to a thickness of 120 mm, ending at 16 m from the stem with a 120 mm bulkhead. Further to the stem there was a 30 mm thick belt. In the aft end, the belt had a thickness of 100 mm, ending at 7 m from the stern rod ^[5] .

Booking towers has been somewhat enhanced. The windshield and rear wall remained 270 mm thick. The side walls had a thickness of 270 mm instead of 220 mm. The front inclined plate of the tower roof had a slope of 30 ° and a thickness of 150 mm. Tower barbets had a thickness of 260 mm. The thickness of the roof of the armored cabin was increased to 150 mm ^[6] .

Powerplant

18 naval-type steam boilers with steam pressures of 16–18 atmospheres were located in twelve fireplaces. Six boiler rooms were divided by a waterproof bulkhead in the diametrical plane into 12 compartments. The location of the boilers was different from the Derflinger. In the first two fireplaces, there was one boiler with oil heating. Next came four firecrackers, two boilers with coal heating in each. They were followed by two firecrackers, each with two oil boilers. Then came two more firecrackers, two coal-fired boilers. In the last two fireplaces there was one boiler with coal heating ^[6] . All coal-fired boilers had nozzles for oil injection ^[7] .

The turbine unit had a rated capacity of 72,000 liters. with., with a drive on four three-bladed screws with a diameter of 4 meters. According to the project, the maximum speed was to be 27 knots. In tests, with a draft less than design by 0.75 m, the cruiser’s engine installation produced 95,777 liters. from. at a screw speed of 290 rpm. The tests were carried out on a shallow Belt mile . The wave resistance of the ship in shallow water increased sharply (draft 9 meters with a sea depth of 35 meters). Therefore, a speed of only 26.6 knots was achieved. According to calculations in deep water, the cruiser had to reach a speed of 28.5 knots. The fuel supply was increased to 3,700 tons of coal and 1,200 tons of oil. This was supposed to provide a maximum range of 6,100 miles at 14 knots ^{[2] [6]} .

Compared with the British Tiger at the Hindenburg, the volume of the hull occupied by the power plant was used more rationally. This happened both due to the use of boilers with pipes of small diameter, and due to the denser layout. True, during operation this resulted in certain inconvenience to the crew working in cramped spaces ^[8] . This circumstance, as well as the use of coal boilers with thin tubes led to slagging of the boilers and a drop in speed while maintaining maximum speed.

Armament

The Hindenburg received the same eight 305-mm SK L / 50 guns located in four towers according to a linearly elevated scheme . However, the towers were already a sample of 1913. They installed new rangefinders with a base of 7.8 m instead of 3.05 m at the Derflinger. The position of the cellars was changed. All shell shells were below the charging ones . Shell elevators went directly to the fighting compartment of the tower. Elevators charges were fed in two stages, with overload in the working compartment. In towers "B" and "C" it was possible to unload shells on the upper and armored decks. The elevation angle of the guns was increased to 16 °, and Petravik's gyroscopic devices were used to control artillery fire ^[6] .

As with the Luttsov, the anti-mine caliber was represented by fourteen 150-mm guns 15 cm / 45 SK L / 45 ^{[approx. 2]} . They were located in an armored casemate in the MPL C / 13. At the time of completion, four 88-mm Flak L / 45 anti-aircraft guns were mounted on the Hindenburg, mounted around the nasal chimney. Torpedo armament, like on the Derflinger, consisted of four 600 mm submarine torpedo tubes - one in the bow, stern and on the sides in front of the bow turret of the main caliber. The ammunition of torpedoes was increased to 16 ^[6] .

A cruiser called Erzac Hertha was laid down at the state shipyard in Wilhelmshaven on June 30, 1913 ^{[approx. 3]} and received building number 34. After the outbreak of World War I , construction work slowed down significantly. The shipyard was engaged in the conversion of reserve fleet ships for active combat operations. Therefore, launching took place only on August 1, 1915 ^[5] .

When launching, the cruiser received the name "Hindenburg" in honor of the famous military commander Paul von Hindenburg - the Prussian Field Marshal, a participant in the Franco-Prussian War ( 1870 - 1871 ), from 1914 commander of the Eastern Front . Further construction was also carried out at a slow pace, since the shipyard was busy repairing ships damaged in battle, especially after the Battle of Jutland . Also, according to British intelligence, part of the materials from the Hindenburg was used to repair the Derflinger ^[9] . By January 1917, after the declaration of unlimited submarine warfare , the construction of large surface ships was suspended. But this did not affect the Hindenburg. The German fleet experienced an acute shortage of high-speed heavily armed capital ships, the need for which was shown by sea battles. Not only that, according to the Fleet Law, the construction of battlecruisers was limited, so in the Battle of Jutland the Lutz was lost. Therefore, work on the Hindenburg was continued, and it became the last capital ship of the imperial fleet commissioned ^[10] . In April 1917, the building of the newly built Hindenburg was damaged by the battleship Helgoland emerging from the dock ^[11] .

The slipway construction period lasted 22 months, and the completion afloat - 21 months. The cost of construction amounted to 59 million marks or at the exchange rate of that time 29.5 million rubles in gold . On May 10, 1917, the cruiser was ready for testing, and it raised the flag and pennant. Sea trials were completed on August 20. And by October 25, 1917, the Hindenburg completed an individual training course and moved from Kiel to Wilhelmshaven, where it was introduced to the High Seas Fleet ^{[4] [11]} .

At different times, the ship was commanded ^[11] :

• captain zur see ^{[approx. 4]} Karpf (May 1917 - November 1917)
• Corvette Captain ^{[approx. 5]} Oldecop (July 1917 - interim)
• Captain Zur See Eberius (November 1917 - January 1918)
• Captain Zur See Hildebrand (February 1918 - November 1918)
• Corvette Captain Hayden (since November 1918, during the internment period)

As part of the High Seas Fleet

Since October 26, the cruiser was in full combat readiness. Since November 6, as part of the 1st reconnaissance group, he joined the military guard and sentry service in the German Bay ( German: German Bight ). In addition to him, the group included all the remaining battlecruisers of the German fleet - Derflinger , Seidlitz , Moltke and Von der Tann . The Hindenburg made its first combat exit on November 17 to help von Reiter's cruisers, who entered battle with superior British forces during the so-called Second Battle of Helgoland Bay . But the battle cruisers “Hindenburg” and “Moltke” reached the battlefield after it was over, when the British ships had already left ^{[11] [3]} .

On November 23, 1917, the Hindenburg, replacing the Seidlitz, became the flagship of Vice Admiral Hipper . But already on November 24, Hipper moved his flag aboard the old Niobe cruiser, which acted as a blockchain , which was the flagship most of the time. Hipper was entrusted with the general command of guarding the German Bay, which was more convenient to do with the old cruiser who was standing on the joke. “Hindenburg” at that time carried out security and carried a guard service ^[11] .

After the successful attack of the German cruisers "Brumer" and "Bremse" on one of the Scandinavian convoys, the British began to use large forces to guard, including battle cruisers. Therefore, the German fleet, if he wanted to continue the convoy attacks, it was necessary to use large warships. From April 23 to 25, 1918, the Hindeburg, under the flag of Hipper, participated in the High Sea Fleet's campaign in the northern part of the North Sea with the aim of attacking one of the convoys. The operation was designed to intercept the convoy, which was scheduled for release on April 24. The direct attack was to be carried out by battlecruisers of the 1st reconnaissance group - Hindenburg, Seidlitz, Moltke, Derflinger, Von der Tann, four light cruisers of the 2nd reconnaissance group and destroyers of the 2nd flotilla. Assuming a meeting with a part of the Grand Fleet, the entire High Seas Fleet went out to support operations in the sea. But the campaign ended in failure. Firstly, due to a turbine accident, the Moltke took 2,000 tons of water inside, lost speed, went in tow for the battleship Oldenburg for some time, and was attacked by an English submarine E-42 upon return. Secondly, the German headquarters did not guess the release date of the convoy, and when he went out to sea on April 22, he safely reached the coast of Britain, having missed the battle with the Hippers ^{[11] [12] [13]} .

Since June 29, the First Reconnaissance Group, headed by the Hindenburg, guarded minesweepers when a large group of submarines entered the “ 500 route ” ^[14] .

After Scheer was appointed chief of the naval general headquarters, a special service for the protection of the North Sea was created, and the commander of the 1st reconnaissance group was relieved of this task. Hipper himself was promoted to admiral and was appointed August 11, 1918 as commander of the High Seas Fleet. The commander of the 1st Reconnaissance Group was appointed his youngest flagship Rear Admiral Reuters ^[14] .

Since August 12, the new commander has been holding his flag on the Hindenburg. In October 1918, the fleet was preparing to leave. It was planned to raid the coast of Great Britain, in which battlecruisers of the 1st reconnaissance group were to shell the mouth of the Thames and lure from the Grand Fleet bases far south into minefields. On the way, British ships had to be attacked by a large number of submarines. Then the battleships of the High Seas Fleet were to be connected. But by 1918 the Grand Fleet was at least twice as strong as the German fleet, and the German sailors considered this attack suicidal. Therefore, when the order to go to sea was received on October 28, an uprising broke out on the battleships “ Helgoland ”, “ Thuringen ” and several battle cruisers ^[15] . The fleet’s campaign was canceled, and on November 2, the Hindenburg began to be repaired, and Reuters moved its flag to Moltok ^[14] .

Интернирование, затопление в Скапа Флоу и подъём

«Гинденбургу» так и не довелось поучаствовать в боевых действиях. По условиям перемирия крейсер подлежал интернированию и в составе Флота открытого моря 19 ноября 1918 года перешёл в британскую базу Ферт-оф-Форт , а затем 24 ноября 1918 года в Скапа-Флоу , где и был интернирован ^[16] .

21 июня 1919 года «Гинденбург» вместе с остальными немецкими кораблями был затоплен своим экипажем. Несмотря на пулемётный огонь британцев, пытавшихся предотвратить затопление, он в 17:00 последним лёг на дно в полумиле западнее острова Кава. Но, в отличие от большинства других кораблей, он не перевернулся и лёг практически на ровный киль на глубине около 22 метров. При этом толщина воды во время отлива над ютом была около 9 метров, а над носовой частью 3 метра, и надстройка выходила из воды по шлюпочную палубу ^[17] .

Комиссия британского адмиралтейства, обследовавшая затопленные германские корабли, пришла к выводу, что их поднять не удастся. Миноносцы лежали на дне, навалившись друг на друга, а технологии подъёма столь крупных кораблей, как линкоры и линейные крейсера, в то время вообще не существовало. Лежащий на дне флот выкупил продавец металлолома Эрнест Фрэнк Кокс ^[18] .

Он не имел опыта подъёма судов со дна моря, поэтому составил простой, с его точки зрения, план: с помощью имеющегося в его распоряжении немецкого плавучего дока он поднимет со дна миноносцы, затем срежет башни с «Гиндебурга» и, продав полученный металлолом, заработает деньги на подъём его корпуса. Поначалу дела у него шли достаточно успешно. Разрезав напополам плавучий док, он использовал две половинки для подъёма миноносцев. Преодолев некоторые трудности и приобретя опыт, его команда решилась приступить к подъёму крейсера ^[19] .

Водолазы поставили более 800 заплат, заделав все отверстия. Была закрыта даже дымовая труба гигантской заглушкой площадью 78 м², изготовленной из двух слоёв досок толщиной по 76 мм, скреплённых дюжиной тавровых балок. Герметизация заглушек обеспечивалась проложенной паклей и пропитанной жиром парусиной . Водолазы работали с мая по август 1926 года, после чего была произведена первая попытка подъёма со дна. Купив ещё один док и разрезав его как имеющийся, Кокс решил использовать четыре половинки немецких плавучих доков для возможности устранения крена по бортам после откачки воды. Откачку воды начали 26 августа 1926 года, и через пять дней палуба появилась на поверхности. Но крен достиг 40° и продолжал расти. Опасаясь опрокидывания, откачку воды прекратили, и «Гинденбург» лёг обратно на дно ^{[17] [20]} .

2 сентября была предпринята вторая попытка, но она также завершилась неудачей. Корабль переваливался с борта на борт, и из-за плохой погоды и сбоев при подаче электроэнергии на откачивающие насосы операция опять была отменена. Работы над «Гинденбургом» пришлось временно отложить. И к следующей попытке подъёма приступили уже после того, как были подняты на поверхность линейные крейсера «Мольтке», «Зейдлиц» и линкор «Кайзер» ^[21] .

В январе 1930 года работы были возобновлены. К 15 июля 1930 года были заменены 300 заплат и начата откачка воды. Носовая часть появилась на поверхности, но из-за возникшего крена на правый борт корабль опять был затоплен. Но поднять «Гиндебург» со дна стало для Кокса уже делом престижа. Поэтому, когда 24 июля 1930 года крейсер был поднят на поверхность, на его борт вступил Кокс в сопровождении жены и дочери. Это был единственный раз, когда Кокс пригласил родню на поднятый со дна корабль ^[22] .

«Гинденбург» был отбуксирован в бухту Нил. Здесь его конструкция была изучена специалистами британского кораблестроительного отдела. После обследования «Гинденбург» 23 августа 1930 года был отбуксирован в Розайт и в течение 1931—1932 годов разделан на металл. Судовой колокол «Гинденбурга» 17 августа 1936 года был торжественно передан Германии и на борту лёгкого крейсера « Нептун » доставлен на родину. Он был установлен на борту карманного линкора « Дойчланд ». 28 мая 1956 года этот же колокол был передан военно-морским силам ФРГ ^[23] .

in Russian

• Апальков Ю. В. ВМС Германии 1914-1918. Справочник по корабельному составу. — Приложение к журналу «Моделист-конструктор». — М. — 32 с. — («Морская коллекция» № 3(9)/1996).
• Вильсон Х. Линкоры в бою. 1914—1918 гг. = HW Wilson. Battleships in Action, 2 Vol. London, 1926. — М. : Государственное военное издательство, 1935. — 340 с.
• Горз, Джозеф Н. Подъем затонувших кораблей. Перевод с английского.. — М. : Судостроение, 1978. — 352 с.
• Мужеников В. Б. Линейные крейсера Германии. - SPb. , 1998. — 152 с. — (Боевые корабли мира).
• Шеер Рейнхард. Германский флот в Мировую войну 1914—1918 гг = Scheer R. Deutschlands Hochseeflotte im Weltkrieg. Persönliche Erinnerungen. — Berlin, Scherl, 1920. — М. : Эксмо , 2002. — 672 с. — (Военно-морская библиотека). - 5100 copies. — ISBN 5-7921-0502-9 .

in English

• Campbell NJM Battlecruisers. — London: Conway Maritime Press, 1978. — 72 p. — (Warship Special No. 1). — ISBN 0851771300 .
• Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906—1921 / Gray, Randal (ed.). — London: Conway Maritime Press, 1985. — 439 p. — ISBN 0-85177-245-5 .
• Staff, Gary. German Battlecruisers: 1914–1918 . — Oxford: Osprey Books, 2006. — 48 p. — ISBN 1846030099 .

in German

• Gröner, Erich. Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815—1945. Band 1: Panzerschiffe, Linienschiffe, Schlachschiffe, Flugzeugträger, Kreuzer, Kanonenboote. — Bernard & Graefe Verlag, 1982. — 180 p. — ISBN 978-3763748006 .

• Grossen kruezers SMS Hindenburg (англ.) . — Фото крейсера «Гинденбург». Дата обращения 30 ноября 2012. Архивировано 8 января 2013 года.