How fuel-efficient were the Admiral Hipper-class cruisers compared with Germany's diesel-powered ships?
Short answerThey were markedly less efficient than desired, and their complicated high-pressure steam plants also demanded intensive maintenance.
NotesEndurance cannot be separated from machinery reliability. The class used several combinations of boilers, turbines, and manufacturers, including ultra-high-pressure and double-ended boiler arrangements. Postwar American assessments found German systems technically impressive but unusually maintenance-intensive. Those demands reduced the practical value of ships intended to operate far from friendly repair facilities. The Hipper machinery compounded both the fuel and support problems created by the class's large displacement.