The list of naval ship classes of Germany includes all classes of naval ships produced or operated in Germany from the late 19th century to modern day.
See also: List of naval ships of Germany for a list of individual ships List of German Navy ship classes for modern German type classifications
Aircraft carriers
Displacement: 23,200 tons Armament: 16 x 15 cm guns, 10 x 10.5 cm guns, 22 x 3.7 cm AA guns, 28 x 2 cm AA guns Aircraft: Up to 37, including Bf 109T, Ju 87C, and Fi 167 Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Flugzeugträger B Service: Neither vessel was commissioned into service
Surface combatants
Battleships (Schlachtschiffe) See list of battleships of Germany for detailed listings
Battlecruisers (Schlachtkreuzer)
Coastal defense ships (Küstenpanzerschiffe)
Displacement: 5,652 tons Armament: 8 x 24 cm guns Armor: Performance: Speed Ships in class: 1: Service: Launched 1884
Displacement: 3,740 tons Armament: 3 x 24 cm guns; 10 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 530 mm belt; 200 mm turret; 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 6: , , , , , Service: Commissioned 1890 to 1896
Displacement: 3,740 tons - 4,250 tons Armament: 3 x 24 cm guns; 8-10 x 8.8 cm guns; 3-4 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 530 mm belt; 200 mm turret; 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: , and Service: Commissioned 1890 to 1896
Heavy cruisers (Schwere Kreuzer)
Displacement: 18,200 tons (18,400 tons for Prinz Eugen) Armament: 8 x 20 cm (8") guns; 12 x 10.5 cm guns; 6 x 4 cm AA guns; 8 x 3.7 cm AA guns; 32 x 2 cm AA guns; 12 x 53 cm (21") torpedo tubes (Prinz Eugen shipped 17 x 4 cm guns, 28 x 2 cm guns, and no 3.7 cm guns) Armor: 80 mm belt; 105 mm turret; 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at 20 knots (Prinz Eugen speed was and range was at 20 knots) Ships in class: 5: , , , , and Service: Three ships completed, commissioned 1939 to 1940, two lost in World War II
Displacement: 14,500 tons Armament: 6 x 28 cm (11") guns; 8 x 15 cm guns; 6 x 8.8 cm guns; 8 x 3.7 cm AA guns; 8 x 2 cm AA guns; 8 x 53 cm (21") torpedo tubes Armor: 80 mm belt; 140 mm turret; 40 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 3: (renamed ), , and Service: Commissioned 1933 to 1936, both lost during World War II
Armored cruisers (Panzerkreuzer)
Displacement: 17,500 tons Armament: 12 x 21 cm guns; 8 x 15 cm guns; 16 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 180 mm belt; 180 mm turret; 70 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1909, sunk 1915
Displacement: 12,985 tons Armament: 8 x 21 cm guns; 6 x 15 cm guns; 18 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x 3.7 cm guns; 4 x machineguns; 4 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 150 mm belt; 170 mm turret; 70 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1907 to 1908, both lost in World War I at the Battle of the Falkland Islands
Displacement: 10,266 tons Armament: 4 x 21 cm guns; 10 x 15 cm guns; 14 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x 3.7 cm guns; 4 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 100 mm belt; 150 mm turret; 60 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1905 to 1906, Yorck lost in World War I
Displacement: 9,800 tons Armament: 4 x 21 cm guns; 10 x 15 cm guns; 12 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x 3.7 cm guns; 4 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 100 mm belt; 150 mm turret; 60 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1903 to 1904, both lost in World War I
Displacement: 9,800 tons Armament: 2 x 24 cm guns; 10 x 15 cm guns; 10 x 8.8 cm guns; 10 x 3.7 cm guns; 4 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 100 mm turret; 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1902
Displacement: 11,460 tons Armament: 4 x 24 cm guns; 12 x 15 cm guns; 10 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x machineguns; 6 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 200 mm belt; 200 mm turret; 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1900
Protected cruisers (Geschützte Kreuzer)
Displacement: 6,790 tons Armament: 2 x 21 cm (8") guns; 6 x 15 cm guns; 10 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x machineguns; 5 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 100 mm turret; 100 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 5: , , , , and Service: Commissioned 1899
Displacement: 6,300 tons Armament: 4 x 15 cm guns; 6 x 10 cm guns; 5 x 35 cm torpedo tubes (1896 modification added 8 x 15 cm guns and 8 x 8.8 cm guns, removed all 10 cm guns; 1916 modification added 4 x 10 cm guns and 1 x 8.8 cm gun, removed 11 x 15 cm guns and all torpedo tubes) Armor: 70 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1895
Displacement: 5,027 tons Armament: 12 x 15 cm guns; 6 x 3.7 cm guns; 3 x 35 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 75 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: , Service: Commissioned 1888
Light cruisers (Leichte Kreuzer)
Displacement: 8,400 tons (9,000 tons for Nürnberg) Armament: 9 x 15 cm (6") guns; 6 x 8.8 cm guns; 8 x 3.7 cm guns; 4 x 2 cm guns; 12 x 53 cm (21") torpedo tubes; 120 mines (Nürnberg shipped an additional 2 x 8.8 cm guns and 2 x 4 cm AA guns) Aircraft: 2 catapult launched Arado Ar 196 Armor: 50 mm belt; 30 mm turret; 20 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1931 and 1935, Leipzig damaged in 1944 in collision and reduced to flak ship, both survived World War II
Displacement: 7,700 tons Armament: 9 x 15 cm (6") guns; 2 x 8.8 cm guns; 12 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 120 mines (1934 modification added 8 x 3.7 cm AA guns and replaced torpedoes with 53 cm tubes; 1940 modification added 4 x 8.8 cm guns; 1945 modification added 10 x 2 cm AA guns) Armor: 70 mm belt; 20 mm turret; 40 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 3: , , Service: Commissioned 1929 to 1930, all lost in World War II
Displacement: 7,485 tons Armament: 8 x 15 cm guns; 3 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x 60 cm torpedo tubes; 200 mines Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 10: , , Wiesbaden, Magdeburg, Leipzig, Rostock, Frauenlob, Ersatz Köln, Ersatz Emden, and Ersatz Karlsruhe Service: Seven launched, two commissioned 1918, both scuttled at Scapa Flow
Displacement: 7,125 tons Armament: 8 x 15 cm guns; 2 x 8.8 cm guns; 4 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 200 mines Armor: 60 mm belt; 40 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 4: , , , and Service: Commissioned 1916 to 1917, two scuttled at Scapa Flow
Displacement: 7,100 tons Armament: 8 x 15 cm (6") guns; 3 x 8.8 cm guns; 6 x 2 cm AA guns; 4 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 120 mines (1944 modification replaced 8.8 cm guns with 10.5 cm guns, added 2 x 3.7 cm AA guns and 14 x 2 cm AA guns, and replaced torpedoes with 53 cm (21") tubes) Armor: 50 mm belt; 40 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1925, damaged by bombing April 1945, scuttled May 1945
Displacement: 6,380 tons Armament: 12 x 10.5 cm guns; 2 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 120 mines (1915 modification replaced 10.5 cm guns with 7 x 15 cm guns and added 2 x 8.8 cm guns and 2 x 50 cm tubes) Armor: 60 mm belt; 40 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1914 to 1915, one lost in World War II
Displacement: 6,190 tons Armament: 12 x 10.5 cm guns; 2 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 60 mm belt; 60 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1914, both lost in World War I
Displacement: 5,850 tons Armament: 4 x 15 cm guns; 2 x 8.8 cm guns; 2 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 400 mines Armor: 38 mm belt; 16 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1916, both scuttled at Scapa Flow
Displacement: 5,250 tons Armament: 8 x 15 cm guns; 4 x 5.2 cm guns; 2 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 120 mines Armor: 80 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1914 to 1915, one lost in World War I, one lost in World War II
Displacement: 5,200 tons Armament: 8 x 15 cm guns; 4 x 5.2 cm guns; 4 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 120 mines Armor: 60 mm belt; 40 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: and Service: Commissioned 1915, one lost in World War I
Displacement: 4,900 tons Armament: 12 x 10.5 cm guns; 4 x 5.2 cm guns; 2 x 45 cm torpedo tubes; 100 mines (1917 modification replaced 10.5 cm guns with 6 x 15 cm guns and 2 x 8.8 cm guns) Armor: 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 4: , , , and Service: Commissioned 1909 to 1911, two lost in World War I
Displacement: 4,570 tons Armament: 12 x 10.5 cm guns; 2 x 50 cm torpedo tubes; 120 mines Armor: 60 mm belt; 40 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 4: , , , and Service: Commissioned 1912, two lost in World War I
Displacement: 4,275 tons Armament: 10 x 10.5 cm guns; 6 x 5 cm guns; 2 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1894
Displacement: 4,250 tons Armament: 10 x 10.5 cm guns; 10 x machineguns; 2 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 100 mm belt; 25 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2: , and Service: Commissioned 1908 to 1909, both lost in World War I
Displacement: 3,800 tons Armament: 10 x 10.5 cm guns; 8 x 5.2 cm guns; 2 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Armor: 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 4: , , , and Service: Commissioned 1904 to 1907, two lost in World War I
Displacement: 3,700 tons Armament: 10 x 10.5 cm guns; 2 x 45 cm torpedo tubes (1916 modification added 2 x 15 cm guns and removed 4 x 10.5 cm guns) Armor: 50 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 7: , , , , , , and Service: Commissioned 1904 to 1907, two lost in World War I, one lost in World War II
Displacement: 2,900 tons Armament: 10 x 10.5 cm guns; 14 x machineguns; 3 x 45 cm torpedo tubes; 120 mines Armor: 25 mm deck Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 10: , , , , , , , , , and Service: Commissioned 1900 to 1904, three lost in World War I, two lost in World War II
Displacement: 2,266 tons Armament: 2 x 10.5 cm guns; 8 x 8.8 cm guns; 10 x 3.7 cm revolving cannon Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1887
Displacement: 2,080 tons Armament: 4 x 8.8 cm guns; 6 x 5 cm guns; 3 x 45 cm torpedo tubes Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 1 Service: Commissioned 1896, sunk 1914
Displacement: 1,860 tons Armament: 8 x 10.5 cm guns; 5 x revolver cannon; 2 x 35 cm torpedo tubes Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 3: , , and Service: Commissioned 1892 to 1893, one lost in World War I
Destroyers (Zerstörer)
(Type 103)
Displacement: 4,720 tons Armament: 2 x 127 mm guns; 2 x 20 mm autocannon; 1 x Mark 13 launcher with 40 missiles; 2 x Mark 49 launchers with 42 missiles; 6 x 324 mm torpedo tubes; 1 x ASROC launcher with 8 rockets Performance: Speed Ships in class: 3: , , and Service: Commissioned from 1969, last decommissioned 2003
(Type 101) Displacement: 4,360 tons Armament: 3 x 100 mm DP guns; 4 x twin 40 mm AA guns; 2 x twin MM38 Exocet launchers; 4 x 533 mm torpedo tubes; 2 x quad 375 mm anti submarine rocket launchers; 10 x depth charges; 90 x mines Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 4: , , , and Service: Commissioned from 1964, last decommissioned 1994, all scrapped
Type 1936C Displacement: 3,680 tons Armament: 6 x 12.8 cm DP guns; 6 x 3.7 cm AA guns; 14 x 2 cm AA guns; 6 x 53 cm torpedo tubes; 60 mines; 4 x depth charge launchers Performance: Speed ; Range at Ships in class: 2 Service: Neither completed
Type 1936A Displacement: 3,600 tons Armament: 4 x 12.7 cm guns; 4 x 3.7 cm AA guns; 5 x 2 cm AA guns; 8 x 53 cm torpedo tubes; 60 mines; 4 x depth charge launchers Performance: Speed ; Range at