Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 21:37-2:00:28

Why Scharnhorst needed new diesels, not more old ones

A two-part machinery answer separates modest financial cost from the space, power-to-weight, and industrial penalties of reusing Deutschland-class diesels in a battleship.

Deutschland Class CruisersDiesel PropulsionKriegsmarineNaval Industrial BaseScharnhorst Class BattleshipsShip Propulsion
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Question

How practical would diesel-electric Scharnhorst machinery based on multiple sets of Deutschland-class engines be?

Short answer

The direct cost might be manageable, but old diesels impose space, power-to-weight, and duplicated-development penalties; a serious diesel Scharnhorst needs new engines and gearing.

Notes

Multiplying the Deutschland-class diesel installation might be manageable in cash terms. It would still consume space and industrial capacity inefficiently. Steam turbines could deliver more horsepower per ton than the reused engines, while Germany would be paying to develop both turbine systems for Bismarck and a separate diesel path. A coherent all-diesel fleet might justify larger, more powerful next-generation engines and gearing for Scharnhorst, just as the class used improved 11-inch guns instead of copying the earlier weapons unchanged.