Schlachtschiff M

The six H-class battleships were planned as successors to Bismarck and Tirpitz. Enlarged and improved versions of the preceding design, they were intended to form the core of the Z-Plan battle fleet. Diesel propulsion was selected to provide the range required for commerce warfare. Design work began in 1937, with completion of all six ships projected by 1944. Only Schlachtschiff H and Schlachtschiff J were laid down, at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg on 15 June 1939 and AG Weser in Bremen on 15 August 1939 respectively. Construction stopped on 10 October 1939 when naval priorities shifted toward U-boats. By then 1,200 tons of steel had been incorporated into Schlachtschiff H, a further 3,500 tons were being worked and 12,000 tons had been ordered. Schlachtschiff J was less advanced. The assembled material was dismantled in 1940 and used elsewhere. For further details, see Schlachtschiff H.