TRAINING SHIPS 1960
DEUTSCHLAND Like most other navies the world over, the German Navy has its training ships. The Deutschland, in the style of a modern light cruiser, fulfilled the role for 30 years from the start of the 1960s.
A SCHOOL AFLOAT
When she was built, the Deutschland was the largest ship in the German Navy, and not counting auxiliaries, she remained so until the end of her life. She was designed to fulfil two quite different purposes: in peacetime she was to function as a training ship, while in time of war she would act as a troop transport, hospital ship, convoy escort and minelayer. She was constructed with the express permission of the Western European Union by Nobiskrug at Rendsburg. She was launched on 5 November 1960 and entered service the following May. She was decommissioned on 28 June 1990 and sold for breaking up three years later.
WEAPONS AND SENSORS
As a training ship, Deutschland was fitted with the widest possible range of equipment, including machinery, electronic systems and weaponry. Her machinery was of three types a steam turbine plant and two quite different sets of diesel engines, one by Maybach, the other by Mercedes-Benz (though the former set was eventually removed and M-B units substituted). She carried every type of gun the German Navy employed, from 100mm (3.9in) Type 53 DP (dual-purpose) guns down to anti-aircraft (AA) machine guns.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Cadet training ship
Machinery: 3-shaft steam turbines and diesels totalling 16,000shp
Dimensions (overall) - Length 1 38.2m (453.5ft), beam 16.1 m (52.75ft)
Draught. 5.1 m (16.6ft)
