Friedrich der Große

13.3

Friedrich der Grosse

Battleship | Germany | Tier IX

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price180000 exp

Purchase price15,900,000

Hit Points72,500

Main Battery

406 mm/52 SK C/34 on a Drh LC/34 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Rate of Fire2.31 shots/min.

Reload Time26 sec.

Rotation Speed5.5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time32.73 sec.

Firing Range18.47 km.

Maximum Dispersion263 m.

HE Shell406 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.4 Kz.

Maximum HE Shell Damage4,800

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell38 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity810 m./s.

HE Shell Weight1030 kg.

AP Shell406 mm P.Spr.Gr. L/4.4

Maximum AP Shell Damage12,700

Initial AP Shell Velocity810 m./s.

AP Shell Weight1030 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/38 mount8 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.95 km.

Rate of Fire17.91 shots/min.

Reload Time3.35 sec.

HE Shell105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,200

Initial HE Shell Velocity900 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

Secondary Armament #2

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.95 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

Secondary Armament #3

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.95 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

AA Defense

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/38 mount8 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second132.8

. . . Firing Range4.5 km.

37 mm/83 SK C/30 on a twin mount2 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second20.6

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

37 mm/83 SK C/30 on a Dopp LC/30 mount6 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second15.6

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

20 mm/65 C/38 on a Flak 35 Vierling L/38 mount8 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second51.2

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed27.3 knot

Turning Circle Radius940 m.

Rudder Shift Time24.5 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range16.76 km.

Air Detectability Range12.84 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

13.3

Friedrich der Grosse

Battleship | Germany | Tier IX

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price180000 exp

Purchase price15,900,000

Hit Points84,300

Main Battery

IDS_PGGM147_420MM_48_DRH_LC_19404 х 2 pcs.

Rate of Fire2.07 shots/min.

Reload Time29 sec.

Rotation Speed5.5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time32.73 sec.

Firing Range20.32 km.

Maximum Dispersion263 m.

HE ShellIDS_PGPA053_420MM_HE_HE_L_4_6

Maximum HE Shell Damage5,000

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell41 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity800 m./s.

HE Shell Weight1220 kg.

AP ShellIDS_PGPA052_420MM_AP_APC_L_4_6

Maximum AP Shell Damage13,500

Initial AP Shell Velocity800 m./s.

AP Shell Weight1220 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/38 mount8 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.95 km.

Rate of Fire17.91 shots/min.

Reload Time3.35 sec.

HE Shell105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,200

Initial HE Shell Velocity900 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

Secondary Armament #2

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.95 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

Secondary Armament #3

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.95 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

AA Defense

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/38 mount8 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second132.8

. . . Firing Range4.5 km.

37 mm/69 Flak M42 on an LM/42 mount24 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second247.2

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

20 mm/65 C/38 on a Flak 35 Vierling L/38 mount6 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second38.4

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

37 mm/83 SK C/30 on a twin mount2 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second20.6

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed30 knot

Turning Circle Radius940 m.

Rudder Shift Time17.5 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range16.76 km.

Air Detectability Range12.84 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

IX

15,900,000

Friedrich der Grosse — German Tier IX battleship.

In 1938 and 1939, a plan for the modernization and expansion of the German fleet was developed. Six new battleships were supposed to become the core of the fleet—modernized versions of the Bismarck-class battleships with a diesel power plant and increased gun caliber of up to 406 mm. In July 1939, the keel of the first ship was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, and in September, the construction of the second one began in Bremen. With the outbreak of World War II, construction was suspended and then canceled.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
406 mm/52 SK C/34 on a Drh LC/34 mount	2.3	32.7	263	4,800	38	12,700		0	2,000,000
420 mm/48 SK C/40 on a Drh LC/34 mount	2.1	32.7	263	5,000	41	13,500		35,000	2,500,000

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Friedrich der Große (A)	72,500	19	400	4	8/6	8/2/6/8				0	2,400,000
Friedrich der Große (B)	84,300	19	400	4	8/6	6/26/8				54,000	5,100,000

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
FKS Typ 9 Mod. 1		0		0	1,000,000
FKS Typ 9 Mod. 2		0		26,000	2,600,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 150,000 hp	27.3		0	600,000
Propulsion: 165,000 hp	30		20,000	1,500,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6

Player Opinion

Performance

Based on the unrealized H-39 design plans, the Friedrich der Große (English: Frederick the Great) is essentially a super-Bismarck, sporting the same dual AB-XY turret layout (but with larger guns), the same secondary battery (but with a touch longer range), and the same Hydroacoustic Search (but with longer range and duration). Thanks to the gain in displacement, Friedrich has a significantly larger hit point pool than Bismarck, though loses a bit of maneuverability and concealment in the process.

As with Bismarck, Friedrich excels at close-range brawls where the abysmal accuracy of her main guns is less of a factor, while her powerful secondary armament combined with her decent maneuverability and turret traverse can dish out the damage. Here her turtleback armor and Hydroacoustic Search are key factors in protecting her from return fire. Unfortunately, with the rapidly increasing range and firepower at high tiers, combined with unprotected approaches on many maps, she runs a high risk of being focused and sunk if played too forward at the beginning of the game. Captains should moderate their aggression until an opportunity for a combined push and/or to run down a smaller group of enemies presents itself.

Friedrich has the option between two sets of guns: slightly faster-firing but lighter 406 mm guns, and slightly slower-firing but heavier 420 mm guns. The differences are quite marginal in practice; many captains opt to stay with the 406 mm guns as the higher rate of fire makes the poor accuracy slightly less frustrating, and the 420 mm guns cost XP and credits.

Pros:

• Signature German turtleback armor scheme prevents citadels at close range
• Enhanced Hydroacoustic Search with long range and duration
• Powerful and numerous secondaries
• Decent speed and maneuverability for a ship her size
• Fast turret traverse for a battleship
• Large HP pool

Cons:

• Large turn radius
• Poor detection range
• Terrible main battery accuracy is especially frustrating with only eight guns
• Mediocre outer belt armor can result in many regular penetrations

Optimal Configuration

Commander Skills

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns. ★★	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of main turrets, torpedo tubes, steering gear, engines. ★★	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched. ★	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time.	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters.	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time.	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire. ★	Last Gasp Completely restores the engine boost for the last attack flight of the carrier's planes.
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable. ★	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables. ★	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm. ★★	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range.	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen.	Improved Engines +2.5% Squadron speed.	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. +0.2% squadron speed for each 1% of total health lost. ★★★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding. ★★	Survivability Expert +350 ship HP for each ship tier. +15 aircraft HP for each ship tier.	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes.	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage.	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +10% to continuous damage from AA guns. ★★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship. ★★★	Demolition Expert +2% chance of HE shells causing a fire on target. +1% chance of rockets causing a fire on target. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire on target. ★	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes. ★★
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament Tightens dispersion of shells from secondary batteries. -15% for Tier I-VI ships. -60% for Tier VII-X ships. Manually selected target only. ★★★	Fire Prevention -10% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three. ★★	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +30% to the armor penetration capacity of HE shells. -1% chance of fire on target caused by shells <=139mm. -3% chance of fire on target caused by shells >139mm. ★	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +5% attack aircraft aiming speed. +5% torpedo bomber aiming speed. +10% dive bomber aiming speed.	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% damage/sec. within the explosion radius of shells fired from long-range AA defenses. ★★★	Massive AA Fire Instantaneous Damage +100%. Priority AA sector cooldown +50%.	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of all ships and aircraft. ★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful       ★★ - Frequently Useful       ★ - Occasionally Useful      No stars - Meh     Χ - Not recommended

Gallery

Historical Info

"Battleship H", 1939

Construction

Blohm and Voss Shipbuilding Company; Hamburg, Germany

Laid down: 15 June 1939

---

Specifications

53,400 metric tons displacement, standard

63,600 metric tons displacement, full load

277.8m length

37.0m beam

10.0m draft

---

Machinery

12 diesel engines, 4 auxiliary boilers, 3 shafts

---

Performance

30 knts at 165,000shp

19,200 nm at 19 knts

---

Armor

Main belt: 300mm mid, 60mm forward, 90mm aft

Upper belt: 145mm

Torpedo bulkhead: 45mm

Decks: 100-120mm main, 50-80mm upper armored deck

Bulkheads: 220mm

Turrets: 385mm face, 240mm side, 130mm roof

Conning tower: 390mm

---

Armament

Main

Eight (4x2) 406mm guns

Secondary

Twelve (6x2) 150mm guns

Sixteen (8x2) 105mm guns

Anti-Aircraft

Sixteen (8x2) 37mm guns

Twenty-four (6x4) 20mm guns

Torpedoes

Six 533mm submerged torpedo tubes

---

Aircraft

Four Arado AR 196 floatplanes, two catapults

History

The earliest design studies for "Schlachtschiff H" ("Battleship H") date to 1935, and were near repeats of the early designs for the Bismarck-class ships, armed with 35-centimeter (14 in) guns. Intelligence indicating that the Soviet Navy was planning the Sovetsky Soyuz class with 38 cm (15 in) guns prompted the Germans to increase the caliber of the ship's armament to 38 cm as well on 5 October 1936. The Oberkommando der Marine (OKM) issued staff requirements at the end of October for a ship of 35,000 long tons (36,000 t) armed with eight 38 cm guns with a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). The ship's radius of action was to be at least equal that of the Deutschland-class cruisers.

Design work on the ship that came to be designated H-39 began in 1937. The design staff was instructed to improve upon the design for the preceding Bismarck class; one of the requirements was a larger-caliber main battery to match any battleship built by a potential adversary. It appeared that Japan would not ratify the Second London Naval Treaty, which would bring an escalator clause that permitted signatories to arm battleships with guns of up to 40.6 cm (16.0 in) caliber. By virtue of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, signed in 1935, Germany was considered to be a party to the other international naval arms limitation treaties. In April, Japan refused to sign the treaty; shortly thereafter, the United States Navy announced it would arm the new North Carolina-class battleships with 40.6 cm guns.

Admiral Werner Fuchs, responsible for the staff section in the OKM that determined the operating requirements for the ship, discussed the vessel's design with Adolf Hitler, the leader of Germany. Hitler demanded guns larger than any possible adversary, but guns of the caliber demanded by Hitler would have required displacements of over 80,000 long tons (81,000 t) and drafts so deep as to prevent the use of Germany's ports without significant dredging. Fuchs eventually convinced Hitler that the 40.6 cm gun was the optimal choice for the H-39 design. In 1938, the OKM developed Plan Z, the projected construction program for the German navy. A force of six H-39 class battleships was the centerpiece of the fleet. Plan Z was finalized by January 1939, when Admiral Erich Raeder, the commander of the Kriegsmarine, presented it to Hitler. He approved the plan on 18 January and granted the Kriegsmarine unlimited power to bring the construction program to fruition.

Design

As finalized, the H-39 design called for a ship 266 m (873 ft) long at the waterline and 277.8 m (911 ft) long overall. The beam was to have been 37 m (121 ft) with a designed draft of 10 m (33 ft). At standard displacement, which was 52,600 long tons (53,400 t), the draft was slightly under the limit, at 9.6 m (31 ft). With the ship fully loaded, at 62,600 long tons (63,600 t), draft rose significantly, to 11.2 m (37 ft). Four bilge keels added to the stability of the ships.

The ships were to be powered by twelve MAN 9-cylinder double acting 2-stroke diesel engines. The engines were arranged in groups of four, on three shafts, and drove three-bladed screws 4.8 m (16 ft) in diameter. Four auxiliary boilers were installed to provide backup power. The power-plant was rated at 165,000 shaft horsepower (123,000 kW) and 260 rpm; it provided a top speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) as designed. The design had one main rudder along the keel behind the center shaft and two smaller wing rudders. The main armament was to consist of eight 40.6 cm SK C/34 guns in four twin gun turrets. The 40.6 cm (16 in) gun was 52 calibers long and fired a 1,030 kg (2,270 lb) AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 810 m/s (2,657 ft/s). The guns were supplied with a total of 960 rounds of ammunition or 120 shells per gun. The secondary armament is the same as on the Bismarck, with twelve 15.0 cm guns in six mounts. The AA armament consists of sixteen 10.5 cm guns in eight mounts, sixteen 37 mm guns, and twenty-four 20 mm guns. The armor layout reflects the general protection scheme used by the Germans since the Nassau-class, which emphasized close range protection. The upper belt armor is 145 mm while the lower main belt armor is 300 mm with a sloped "turtleback" section, 150 mm by the magazines and 120 mm by the machinery, behind it. The upper deck was 80 mm (3.1 in) thick above the magazines and 50 mm (2.0 in) over the machinery spaces. The main armored deck was 120 mm (4.7 in) and 100 mm (3.9 in) thick, respectively. The design had extensive splinter protection over the bow and stern, with a 60-150 mm splinter belt at the bow. The torpedo defense system was largely similar to the system on the Bismarck.

Service

Only four shipyards in Germany had slipways large enough to build the six new battleships. The OKM issued orders for construction of the first two ships, "H" and "J", on 14 April 1939. The contracts for the other four ships, "K", "L", "M", and "N", followed on 25 May. The keels for the first two ships were laid at the Blohm & Voss dockyard in Hamburg and the Deschimag shipyard in Bremen on 15 July and 1 September 1939, respectively. The outbreak of war in September 1939 interrupted the construction of the ships. Work on the first two was suspended and the other four were not laid down, as it was believed they would not be finished before the war was over. The keel for "H" had 800 t (790 long tons; 880 short tons) of steel installed, 3,500 t (3,400 long tons; 3,900 short tons) of steel had been machined, out of 5,800 t (5,700 long tons; 6,400 short tons) of steel supplied to Blohm & Voss by that point. Only 40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons) of steel had been worked into the keel for "J", out of 3,531 t (3,475 long tons; 3,892 short tons) of steel delivered. Steel for the other four ships had been ordered and partially machined for installation, though no assembly work had begun. It was expected to resume work on the ships after a German victory in the war.

The ships neither received names nor were official name proposals published. The names, which appear in several publications (Hindenburg, Friedrich der Große, Großdeutschland) are pure speculation. Especially the often mentioned Großdeutschland (= "Greater Germany") is highly unlikely, as Hitler always feared the loss of a vessel with name of Germany (compare the renaming of Deutschland to Lützow). The only hint on the names of the units were given by Hitler himself, who mentioned during documented unofficial talks, that he would propose the names Ulrich von Hutten and Götz von Berlichingen for the ships, as these names are not connected with persons of the third Reich or the country itself, so the loss would not have a significant negative psychological and propaganda effect on the German people.

The Friedrich der Große in game represents the H-39 design, with the upgraded hull incorporating hypothetical increases in AA armament and an electronics suite that would have matched the Tirpitz late in the war. The upgraded guns are the planned 42 cm guns for the revised H-41 design, though the in game hull remains that of the H-39. It shares its name with the Kaiser-class battleship Friedrich der Große.

Historical Gallery

• 

  An artist's interpretation of an H-class battleship by Richard Allison

• 

  One of the 40.6 cm guns at Batterie Lindemann

• 

  One of the 15 cm turrets on Bismarck, the same type as would have been mounted on the H class.

References

https://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_16-52_skc34.php

Ships of Germany

Battleships