Schweitzer-class destroyer

Class overview
Name	Schweitzer
Namesake	Peter Schweitzer
Builder	Marburger Schiffbau AG
Operators	Rotgeheim
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Fischer-class destroyer
Built	1897 – 1903
In commission	1898 – present
Completed	6
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	3,600 tons
Length	490 ft (150 m)
Beam	47.5 ft (14.5 m)
Draft	14.7 ft (4.5 m)
Installed power	Three Maybach MB1000 generators
Propulsion	Four shafts
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h)
Range	8,100 km
Armament	6 x 12.7 cm (5 in) guns 6 x 7.6 cm (3 in) guns 8 x 3.7 cm (1.5 in) guns 12 x 2.5 cm (0.9 in) guns

The Schweitzer class is one of the many classes of destroyers currently serving in the Rotgeheiman Navy.

Background

As the Navy of Rotgeheim broadened its warfaring capabilities, the classes and types of ships which were required grew. A class of destroyers was ordered in the early 1890s, but because of budget restraints, the project didn't begin until the mid-1890s.

The first known orders for the design of a suitable destroyer were issued in summer of 1895 to an up-and-coming shipbuilding company, Marburger Schiffbau AG. The design process continued until early 1897, at which point they were approved by the High Command of the Navy. Orders to begin building were immediately thereafter issued, and it began on 23 April 1897.

Design

Armor

The designs for the ship were instructed to meet the Navy's needs for a fast, yet well-armed destroyer that had sufficient armor to repel moderate shelling. Armor was initially several inches thick, but the large armor plates weighed down the ship from the speed desired. Armor was limited to a much thinner – and classified – thickness.

Armament

To satisfy the Navy's need for a well-armed destroyer, Marburger Schiffbau AG leased the help of a foreign arms manufacturer, Rotbart Waffensysteme, out of Northern Prussia. The Navy had requested a destroyer with the power to "fend off opponents that would normally easily gain the initiative in sea battle, such as light cruisers, battlecruisers, and smaller battleships", so Rotbart Waffensysteme provided its 12.7 cm SchK 92. Although these cannons were normally used on light cruisers and sometimes even battleships, they were able to easily fit on the destroyer hulls being built. Six 12.7 SchK 92s were outfitted to the destroyers in three double mounts. Two double mounts lie upon the bow, while the third is behind the bridge section, on the stern. All main cannons for the six destroyer hulls were purchased and imported from Scheinfeld.

Secondary armament was also provided by Rotbart Waffensysteme. Six 7.6 cm SchK 89, eight 3.7 cm leSchK 90, and twelve 2.5 cm leSchK 94 were procured for further arming the ships. Initially, the secondary weapons systems were imported like the main batteries, but as the second half of the batch was being produced, factories in Rotgeheim were able to meet with the demand of producing small- and medium-caliber ship cannons. The secondary armament for the fourth, fifth, and sixth hulls were produced domestically.

Ships

The following ships are the produced and actively-serving Schweitzer-class battleships, as well as those under construction and awaiting construction. In Rotgeheim, hull numbers are the letter and number designation given to each ship, apart from its actual ceremonial name. Destroyers in the Rotgeheiman Navy begin their hull number designations with "ZR", representing Zerstörer ("Destroyer").