History
of the Prinz Eugen .
The heavy Cruiser
Prinz Eugen, part of the Hipper class (second group.) it was
intended to have two sister ships Seydlitz and Lutzow both never
completed. The Prinz Eugen built at Germaniawerft at Kiel and
launched on the 22nd August 1936 and commissioned 1st August
1940. She accompanied the Bismarck on the Bismarck's breakout
into the Atlantic, but escaped, later she returned to the Atlantic with
the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from Brest to Germany. After Germany's
surrender the Prinze Eugen was ceded to the USA at the Potsdam agreement.
The Us Navy crew although trained by Kriegsmarine personnel, were unable
to maintain the Prinz Eugen's machinery and a complete breakdown occurred
with the ship needing to be towed the rest of the way to Pearl harbor. She
was used as a target in the A bomb tests during operation Crossroads.
being the target in two tests, "Able" and
"Baker". The Prinz Eugen survived both tests without
structural damage but being contaminated. She was towed to Kwajalein and
decommissioned. On the 21st December due to damage she started to list,
unable to correct the situation the Prinz Eugen was towed to Enunuj
reef where she capsized and sank at position 167 Degrees 41 East and
8 degrees 44 south where she remains to this day.
Displacement:
16974 standard, fully loaded 19,050 tons. Speed: 32.5 knots
Compliment 1600
Armament:
eight 203mm 60 calibre guns in four pairs. twelve 105mm in six
pairs. twelve 37mm in six pairs Eight 20mm
and twelve 533mm Torpedo Tubes in four groups of three tubes. also carried
three aircraft.
