ARA Catamarca (BB-1914) ex-Konig Class
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The two ex-Konig Class and the two Rivadavia Class battleships were to be the
main units of the Battlefleet from 1922 through to 1938. The Konig class, with
their 8x13.75" guns, had proved a very good investment. Though only eight guns,
the broadside was superior to the 10 gun Kaiser class and even better than the
other 11"/12" Dreadnoughts that had found their way into the Argentine Navy. The
only equal they had in South American waters was the 15" gunned Riachuello class
in the Brazilian Navy.
Displacement: 26,200 tons normal displacement, 28,000 tons full load
Dimensions: 575 x 97 x 30 feet
Machinery: 3 shaft turbines, 44,000shp
Speed: 22 knots
Endurance: 7,500 nmi at 12 knots
Armour: 350mm (13.75") belt, 30mm (1.2") deck, 330mm/210mm/150mm turrets
Armament:
8 x 13.75" (4x2)
14 x 5.9" (14x1)
10 x 88mm AA (10x1)
Torpedoes: 6 x 500mm (6x1 underwater)
Crew: 1150 (1210 as Flagship)
Like most nations with older Dreadnought battleships, a timeline was worked out
to renovate these ships, that would not impact on the fleets strength too much.
This had to be done as a lot of the new build ships were dependant on the 12"
guns being removed from the older ships to provide their new main armament. The
two ships of the Konig class were taken in hand 1935 and 1936, returning to the
fleet 18 months later.
Displacement: 27,500 tons normal displacement, 28,000 tons full load
Dimensions: 587 x 97 x 30 feet
Machinery: 3 shaft turbines, 60,000shp
Speed: 24 knots
Endurance: 7,500 nmi at 12 knots
Armour: 350mm (13.75") belt, 130mm (5.1") deck, 330mm/210mm/150mm turrets
Armament:
8 x 13.75" (4x2)
16 x 88mm (8x2)
8 x 37mm AA (4x2)
10x20mm (2x4, 2x1)
Crew: 1150 (1210 as Flagship)
Original 10x12" armed drawings.
As completed:
| Displacement: |
- 25,390 tons
normal
- 28,600 tons
full load
|
| Length: |
175.4 m (575 ft 6 in) |
| Beam: |
29.5 m (96 ft 9 in) |
| Draft: |
9.19 m (30 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion: |
- 3 shaft
Parsons turbines
- 42,708 shp
|
| Speed: |
21.2 knots |
| Range: |
8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 12 knots |
| Complement: |
1,136 |
| Armament: |
- 10 × 12" (5x2)
- 14 × 5.9"
(14x1)
- 10 × 88mm
(10x1)
- 5 × 50 cm
(19.7 in) torpedo tubes submerged
|
| Armor: |
- Belt: 350 mm
(14 in)
- Turrets and
conning tower: 300 mm (12 in)
- Deck: 30 mm
(1.2 in)
|
1935 and the two ships were showing their age. Either they would be refurbished
at the Bahia Blanca Naval Yards or scrapped for useful parts. The two ships were
to be refurbished as they were to be a part of the Las Malvinas convoy covering
force. The refurbishment followed the lines of the earlier dreadnoughts with new
superstructure. The removal of Q turret to provide space for an enhanced AA
armament. The removal of the 5.9" and the plating in of the main deck area. This
removal of the 5.9" allowed topweight and magazine space for the 88mm twin
turrets that formed the dual purpose armament. Thought was given to replacing
the boilers and engines but the ships had never had a very active life in either
German or Argentinian service and were more than adequate for the role the ships
were to undertake. This was cheaper and quicker too.
As well as the changes noted above, the submerged torpedo tubes were removed as
well. The deck armour was considered under strength and while the main deck was
available, the armour was increased to 128mm (5").
As rebuit:
Displacement: 25,600 standard, 29,500 tons full load.
Dimensions: 575 x 97 x 30 feet
Machinery: 3 shaft, steam turbines, 43,000shp,
Speed: 21 knots
Endurance: 8,000 miles at 12 knots
Armour: 350mm belt, 128mm deck, 300mm turrets
Armament:
8 x 12" (4x2)
16 x 88mm (8x2)
8 x 37mm (4x2)
22 x 20mm (4x4, 6x1)
Aircraft: Nil
Crew: 1200
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