Odin B

Ballistics

Armor Model

Overview

In 1932–34, as part of the further development of the Deutschland-class ships, more than a dozen projects were considered. In July 1934, it was decided to add a third main battery turret to the ships, leading to a significant increase in displacement. This was deemed justified, as the likely opponents of the new ships were to be the French Dunkerque-class battlecruisers. In early 1935, the characteristics of the French battlecruiser Strasbourg became known, and the project was adjusted once more. Options with 330 mm and 380 mm guns were considered, but the variant with 305 mm main battery guns was considered the most balanced. Moreover, this was the caliber Great Britain wanted to propose as the main one at the future naval conference. However, redesigning the already under-construction ships would have taken about a year and a half, and the changes were abandoned. As a result, the ships were completed as Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.