Difference between revisions of "Prinz Eugen"

From War Thunder Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Visual (beta)Wikitext
m (→‎Description: availability)
 
(20 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{About
 
−
| about = German heavy cruiser '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
−
| usage = the other Admiral Hipper-class cruiser
 
−
| link = Admiral Hipper
 
−
}}
 
 
{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=germ_cruiser_prinz_eugen
 
|code=germ_cruiser_prinz_eugen
 
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
−
|store=8103
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} German heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]].
+
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' was the third of the ''[[Admiral Hipper (Family)|Admiral Hipper]]''-class heavy cruisers and the last to be completed by the Kriegsmarine. She was ordered from the Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel and was laid down on 23 April 1936 as part of the German rearmament programme following the Anglo-German Naval Agreement a year prior, and was later launched on 22 August 1938.
 +
 
 +
After being commissioned in 1940 and patrolling around the Atlantic alongside the battleship ''Bismarck'' in early May 1941, ''Prinz Eugen'' would take part in her most famous engagements in the Battle of the Denmark Strait later that month, in which the pair managed to sink the British flagship [[HMS Hood|HMS ''Hood'']] and damage the battleship ''Prince of Wales''. However, ''Eugen'' suffered a fuel tank leak and was forced to part ways with ''Bismarck'', leaving the latter to her demise a few days later. After emergency repairs and problems with her engines and turbine, ''Prinz Eugen'' was ordered to be docked in Brest, occupied France, for extensive repair. After spending half a year in Brest and being the target of frequent air raids by the RAF, ''Prinz Eugen'', along with battleships ''[[Scharnhorst]]'' and ''Gneisenau'', was ordered to break through the English Channel in January 1942. The next month, ''Eugen''<nowiki/>'s stern was struck by a torpedo from the submarine HMS ''Trident'', resulting in extensive damage to the rudder. After completing her repair in 1943, ''Prinz Eugen'' was sent to the Baltic Sea to provide fire support for the retreating German army on the Eastern Front, which she did until the German capitulation in 1945. She and ''[[Nürnberg]]'' were the only German bluewater warships to survive the war intact.
 +
 
 +
After the war, ''Prinz Eugen'' was later awarded to the United States as reparation. The US Navy subsequently conducted extensive examinations on various German machinery. After which, ''Prinz Eugen''<nowiki/>'s career literally ended with a bang when she was used as one of the targets for the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests in 1946.
 +
 
 +
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' was introduced as a premium pack in [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]]and was removed from the store after the [[wt:en/news/8880-shop-may-sale-in-the-gaijin-store-en|2024 May sales]]. It has since been made available for Golden Eagles {{GE}} in the 2024 [[wt:en/news/9032-shop-prinz-eugen-temporarily-returns-to-celebrate-the-anniversary-of-its-launch-en|Launch Anniversary Celebration]] mini event.
  
−
The {{PAGENAME}} is perhaps one of the most famous cruiser in World War II. It is best known for her long and fanciful career, from fighting alongside the battleship Bismarck in the Battle of the Denmark Strait in 1941, to the breakthrough between the British channel in 1942, and providing fire support for the retreating German army in the Eastern Front in 1945. The {{PAGENAME}}'s career literally ended with a bang when she was used as one of the targets for Operation Crossroads nuclear tests in 1946.
+
It is perhaps one of the most famous cruisers of World War II. Compared to her sister ship, ''[[Admiral Hipper]]'', ''Eugen'' is in her final 1945 configuration with a substantial increase in AA firepower and crew count. This is effectively a double-edged sword; on one hand, she is more survivable than her sister ship and better protected against aircraft, while on the other hand, her large amounts of AA mounts mean that she will frequently catch fire whenever hit. Aside from this, ''Eugen'' is largely the same as ''Hipper'' in playstyle, being an all-around heavy cruiser with a particular focus on her high-velocity 8-inch guns, capable of engaging any targets she could face.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 20: Line 20:
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
−
As with her sister ship [[Admiral Hipper]], the {{PAGENAME}} features some of the best protection of all cruisers in the game. Her hull is covered with several layers of armour which can soak up and contain a lot of damage, save for some large calibre shells. She also has a very high crew count with 1,776 sailors.
+
As with her sister ship [[Admiral Hipper]], the {{PAGENAME}} features some of the best protection of all cruisers in the game. Her hull is covered with several layers of armour in a "turtleback" layout specifically designed to soak up and contain a lot of damage, save for some large calibre AP shells which can still penetrate multiple layers of armour. She also has a very high crew count, with 1,776 sailors.
  
−
Unfortunately, the {{PAGENAME}}'s real-life fame will make her a priority target: expect to be showered with shells of all calibres from the enemies and putting off fires often. Due to how frequently and easily your secondary and AA armaments will be disabled (and several crew members being killed in process), it is recommended not to repair them to reduce crew loss until you've cleared from enemy fire.
+
Unfortunately, the {{PAGENAME}}'s real-life fame will make her a priority target: expect to be showered with shells of all calibres from enemies and putting out the fires caused by them often. Additionally, the {{PAGENAME}} also has a well-known weak spot in her front turret magazine which enemies will target to take her out as soon as possible.
 +
 
 +
Due to how frequently and easily your secondary and AA armaments will be disabled (with their allocated crew members being knocked out in the process), it is recommended not to repair them in order to reduce crew loss until you've escaped from enemy fire.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
Line 28: Line 30:
 
<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
 
For a ship of this size and displacement, the {{PAGENAME}}'s top speed is fairly good at 70 km/h (AB) or 60 km/h (RB). However, due to her mass and high centre of gravity, the {{PAGENAME}} suffers from excessive listing problem that reduce her traverse speed and throw off the aiming reticules into the air. This can be fatal if the ship is flooding, as too much listing angle can result in the ship capsizing and sinking.
 
For a ship of this size and displacement, the {{PAGENAME}}'s top speed is fairly good at 70 km/h (AB) or 60 km/h (RB). However, due to her mass and high centre of gravity, the {{PAGENAME}} suffers from excessive listing problem that reduce her traverse speed and throw off the aiming reticules into the air. This can be fatal if the ship is flooding, as too much listing angle can result in the ship capsizing and sinking.
 +
 +
{{NavalMobility}}
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
Line 38: Line 42:
 
<!-- ''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.'' -->
 
{{main|20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 (203 mm)}}
 
{{main|20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 (203 mm)}}
−
The {{PAGENAME}}'s primary armaments consists of eight 203 mm/60 SK C/34 cannons arranged in four twin turrets mounted A-Bs-Xs-Y. While not the most powerful gun of its rank, it is still effective at dealing damage to all kinds of targets. One thing worth noting is that her APCBC rounds have very high penetration (265 mm at 10 km), this allows the {{PAGENAME}} to deal damage against heavily-armoured dreadnoughts, and especially deadly at closer range.
+
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}}'s primary armaments consists of eight 203 mm/60 SK C/34 cannons arranged in four twin turrets mounted A-Bs-Xs-Y. The gun is notable for being effective at dealing damage to all kinds of targets save for battleship at ranges. The gun has a good reload time of 12 seconds (ace crew) and has a decent firing arc, giving the {{PAGENAME}} a consistent damage output against enemy ships.
 +
 
 +
The 203 mm guns has three shell choice; an average HE shell with 8.8 kg TNTe, a SAP shell with decent penetration (160 mm at 10 km) and sizeable filler of 5.35 kg TNTe, and a powerful APCBC shell which have very high penetration (265 mm at 10 km), this allows the {{PAGENAME}} to deal damage against heavily-armoured dreadnoughts up close, and especially deadly at closer range against any targets. As each shell have a high velocity of 925 m/s, this results into good accuracy and thus make aiming easier.
 +
 
 +
{{:20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 (203 mm)/Ammunition|20.3 cm L/4.7 Kz HE, 20.3 cm L/4.4 (m.Hb) APBC, 20.3 cm L/4.7 Bdz (m.Hb) SAP}}
  
 
=== Secondary armament ===
 
=== Secondary armament ===
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}
 
<!-- ''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.'' -->
−
{{main|10.5 cm SK C/33 AA (105 mm)}}
+
{{main|SK C/33 AA (105 mm)}}
  
 
These cannons are great for taking out destroyers, as they have a good rate of fire and damage output. They also makes decent anti-air guns for high altitude bombers, though not particularly reliable they will definitely make bomb drops harder to pull off. Depending on which target you want to focus on you may load different shells: HE shells for destroyers and other smaller vessels, time-fused HE for anti-air duties if there are a lot of bombers in the sky, and APHE for well-armoured destroyers. You can take manual control of the secondary guns (alt+2 by default), making them more effective and giving you the ability to change the shells depending on the situation you are in. However, this will leave you vulnerable to other cruisers because you will be focusing most of your attention on other vehicles, so it may be better to level up your AI gunners and leave the job to them, while you focus on other cruisers or destroyers with your powerful main guns.
 
These cannons are great for taking out destroyers, as they have a good rate of fire and damage output. They also makes decent anti-air guns for high altitude bombers, though not particularly reliable they will definitely make bomb drops harder to pull off. Depending on which target you want to focus on you may load different shells: HE shells for destroyers and other smaller vessels, time-fused HE for anti-air duties if there are a lot of bombers in the sky, and APHE for well-armoured destroyers. You can take manual control of the secondary guns (alt+2 by default), making them more effective and giving you the ability to change the shells depending on the situation you are in. However, this will leave you vulnerable to other cruisers because you will be focusing most of your attention on other vehicles, so it may be better to level up your AI gunners and leave the job to them, while you focus on other cruisers or destroyers with your powerful main guns.
 +
 +
{{:SK C/33 AA (105 mm)/Ammunition|10.5 cm Sprgr. L/4.4 Kpf.Z, 10.5 cm Sprgr. L/4.4 Zt.Z, 10.5 cm L/4.2 AP}}
  
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
 
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}
 
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}
 
<!-- ''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.'' -->
 
<!-- ''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.'' -->
−
{{main|4 cm Bofors Flak 28 (40 mm)|2 cm/65 C/30 (20 mm)|2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 (20 mm)}}
+
{{main|Bofors Flak 28 (40 mm)|2 cm/65 C/30 (20 mm)|2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 (20 mm)}}
  
−
The Prinz Eugen is covered with 40 mm and 20 mm AA guns, boasting an overall much more effective defence than her sister ship the [[Admiral Hipper]]. These guns easily protect the ship from close-range air assaults, while the 105 mm secondary guns will make sure high altitude bombers think twice before presenting themselves as an easy target, though they lack the proximity-fused shells sported by American and British heavy AA guns. It is best to aim the guns yourself if they are coming in from high altitude because most strategic bomber can't manoeuvre very well, making them easy to lead and aim at. The 40 mm and 20 mm autocannons are also great at wiping out torpedo boats and other small vessels. Since they often carry torpedoes that can one-shot or critically damage you, the wall of autocannon fire will make those torpedo boats think twice before rushing you, allowng you to focus more on the main target like other cruisers or destroyers.
+
The Prinz Eugen is covered with 40 mm and 20 mm AA guns, boasting an overall much more effective defence than her sister ship the [[Admiral Hipper]]. These guns easily protect the ship from close-range air assaults, while the 105 mm secondary guns will make sure high altitude bombers think twice before presenting themselves as an easy target, though they lack the proximity-fused shells sported by American and British heavy AA guns. It is best to aim the guns yourself if they are coming in from high altitude because most strategic bombers can't manoeuvre very well, making them easy to lead and aim at. The 40 mm and 20 mm autocannons are also great at wiping out torpedo boats and other small vessels. Since they often carry torpedoes that can knock out or critically damage you, the wall of autocannon fire will make those torpedo boats think twice before rushing you, allowing you to focus more on the main target like other cruisers or destroyers.
  
 
=== Additional armament ===
 
=== Additional armament ===
Line 59: Line 70:
 
{{main|G7a (533 mm)}}
 
{{main|G7a (533 mm)}}
  
−
The {{PAGENAME}} is loaded with 22 G7a torpedoes launched from four of triple launchers placed in pairs, twelve of them is loaded inside the tubes (six on each side) while other ten is stocked in ready racks. Up to 12 torpedoes can be launched from each side of the ship, doing so will reduce the maximum launch of the other side to 10. Due to quantity of torpedoes, the {{PAGENAME}} can launch a barrages of torpedoes to damage one or more ships at medium-to-long ranges.
+
The {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with 26 G7a torpedoes launched from four triple launchers placed in pairs, twelve of them are loaded inside the tubes (six on each side) while other ten is stocked in ready racks. Up to 12 torpedoes can be launched from each side of the ship. Due to the quantity of torpedoes, the {{PAGENAME}} can launch barrages of torpedoes to damage one or more ships at medium-to-long ranges.
 +
 
 +
=== Scout plane ===
 +
{{Specs-Fleet-Plane}}
 +
 
 +
Located amidships is a single catapult for an Arado Ar 196 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 50 kg bombs, and capping zones, the Ar 196 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). It is essentially the [[Ar 196 A-3|event aircraft]] except with smoke generators, so it will be a familiar unit for those who have the event version. Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
The {{PAGENAME}} is a solid ship with all-around strength that allows her to tip the balance of the team with great firepower and protection. Due to this, {{PAGENAME}}'s presence is enough to draw an attention of most of the enemy team. Whether this is a blessing or a curse depends on how well you're able to exploit the {{PAGENAME}}'s reputation.
+
<!-- ''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} is a solid ship with all-around strength that allows her to tip the balance of the team with great firepower and protection. Due to this, {{PAGENAME}}'s presence is enough to draw the attention of most of the enemy team. Whether this is a blessing or a curse depends on how well you're able to exploit the {{PAGENAME}}'s assets.
  
−
In a situation with only few or no dreadnoughts, the {{PAGENAME}} is able to act as a vanguard for the team. Due to your status as a priority target, you can distract the enemy team into trying to take you down, and allowing your teammates to take a clean hit at an enemy. You can also use your large quantities of torpedoes to kill a preoccupied enemy, as they will be focused more on gunnery and will often does not have enough time to react to an incoming torpedoes.
+
In a situation with only a few or no dreadnoughts, the {{PAGENAME}} is able to act as a vanguard for the team. Due to your status as a priority target, you can distract the enemy team into trying to take you down, and allowing your teammates to take a clean shot at an enemy. You can also use your large quantities of torpedoes to kill a preoccupied enemy, as they will be focused more on gunnery and will often does not have enough time to react to an incoming torpedoes.
 +
 
 +
To maximize the {{PAGENAME}}'s protection, angling is a must. You can contain a lot of damage by exposing only one side of the hull while preserving the crew by proper damage control. Prioritise fire extinguishing to reduce crew loss as the ship will catch fire very often, and do not repair the secondaries and AA until the coast is clear as your replacement crew will ended up becoming a cannon fodder. Flood damage is generally manageable as long as you do not attempt to traverse your ship and cause a severe listing in process. Although she remains relatively safe from flooding damage with ~80% of buoyancy left, you might need to repair the leaks as soon as the ship starts flooding (~97%) to reduce water draining time, though this is not as important as fire damage control and you can repair them later on when the flood is close to dangerous level.
  
−
To maximize the {{PAGENAME}}'s protection, angling is a must. You can contain a lot of damage by exposing only one side of the hull while reserving the crews by proper damage control. Priortize on fire extinguishing as the ship will caught fire very often to reduce crew loss, and do not repair the secondaries and AA until the coast is clear as your replacement crew will ended up becoming a cannon fodder. Flood damage is generally manageable as long as you did not traverse your ship and cause a severe listing in process. Althought she remains relatively safe from flooding damage with ~80% of buoyancy left, you might need to repair the leaks as soon as the ship started floodding (~97%) to reduce water draining time, thought this is not as important as fire damage control and you can repair them later on when the flood is close to dangerous level.
 
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 +
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 +
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Great firepower, can take on any kind of targets
+
* High velocity 8-inch guns with great penetration, can take on any kind of targets
−
* Very tough protection against most shells
+
* Layered armour provides tough protection against most shells
 
* Powerful AA armaments, effective at all ranges
 
* Powerful AA armaments, effective at all ranges
 
* Decent top speed despite its size
 
* Decent top speed despite its size
 
* Very high crew count increases her survivability
 
* Very high crew count increases her survivability
 +
* One scout seaplane
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
Line 111: Line 132:
 
After the surrender, Prinz Eugen was handed to the British. Along with several other German and Japanese prize ships, she was handed over to the United States where she was commissioned as USS Prinz Eugen (IX-300). In early 1946, the Prinz Eugen traversed the Panama canal and sailed to Bikini Atoll, where she would carry out her final duty as a test vessel in the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests.<ref name=":1" />
 
After the surrender, Prinz Eugen was handed to the British. Along with several other German and Japanese prize ships, she was handed over to the United States where she was commissioned as USS Prinz Eugen (IX-300). In early 1946, the Prinz Eugen traversed the Panama canal and sailed to Bikini Atoll, where she would carry out her final duty as a test vessel in the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests.<ref name=":1" />
  
−
On July 1st 1946, the 'Able' nuclear bomb was dropped on an array of vessels, including the Prinz Eugen. The ship, 1.1 km from the epicentre, suffered only minor damage. The second 'Baker' Nuclear test also failed to do significant damage. However, the shocks of two nuclear explosions caused leaks to form in the Prinz Eugen<nowiki/>'s hull. As well, the ship could not be repaired due to the high levels of radiation.<ref name=":1" /> On December 22nd 1946, the Prinz Eugen developed a severe list, and capsized in Kwajalein Atoll. The ship was never salvaged due to the levels of radiation, but one of the ship's propellers was removed and installed near Kiel as a memorial for those who served in the Second World War.<ref name=":1" />
+
On July 1st 1946, the 'Able' nuclear bomb was dropped on an array of vessels, including the Prinz Eugen. The ship, 1.1 km from the epicentre, suffered only minor damage. The second 'Baker' Nuclear test also failed to do significant damage. However, the shocks of two nuclear explosions caused leaks to form in the Prinz Eugen's hull. As well, the ship could not be repaired due to the high levels of radiation.<ref name=":1" /> On December 22nd 1946, the Prinz Eugen developed a severe list, and capsized in Kwajalein Atoll. The ship was never salvaged due to the levels of radiation, but one of the ship's propellers was removed and installed near Kiel as a memorial for those who served in the Second World War.<ref name=":1" />
  
 
=== [[wt:en/news/6498-development-prinz-eugen-steaming-into-the-atomic-age-en|Devblog]] ===
 
=== [[wt:en/news/6498-development-prinz-eugen-steaming-into-the-atomic-age-en|Devblog]] ===
−
Prinz Eugen, named after an 18th-century Austrian general, was the third and last ship of the German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers to see completion. Although being ready for commissioning in July 1940, an RAF air raid on Kiel lightly damaged the warship, causing its commissioning to be delayed until August. 
+
Prinz Eugen, named after an 18th-century Austrian general, was the third and last ship of the German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers to see completion. Although being ready for commissioning in July 1940, an RAF air raid on Kiel lightly damaged the warship, causing its commissioning to be delayed until August.
  
 
After passing sea trials in late 1940, Prinz Eugen was assigned to its first, and arguably its most well-known combat mission - Operation Rheinübung - alongside battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Following some repairs in France, Prinz Eugen was assigned to operations in Norwegian waters in 1942, though this undertaking was cut short by a successful torpedo attack performed by the British submarine HMS Trident, which heavily damaged Prinz Eugen. As a result, Prinz Eugen was ordered back to Germany for repairs.
 
After passing sea trials in late 1940, Prinz Eugen was assigned to its first, and arguably its most well-known combat mission - Operation Rheinübung - alongside battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Following some repairs in France, Prinz Eugen was assigned to operations in Norwegian waters in 1942, though this undertaking was cut short by a successful torpedo attack performed by the British submarine HMS Trident, which heavily damaged Prinz Eugen. As a result, Prinz Eugen was ordered back to Germany for repairs.
Line 120: Line 141:
 
Once repaired, Prinz Eugen returned to service in the late stages of WWII, acting initially as a training vessel for naval officers and providing artillery support for German ground units on the Eastern Front later on.
 
Once repaired, Prinz Eugen returned to service in the late stages of WWII, acting initially as a training vessel for naval officers and providing artillery support for German ground units on the Eastern Front later on.
  
−
After the ceasefire in Europe, Prinz Eugen was handed over to the U.S. Navy as a war prize. After a detailed study of the ship’s design, the U.S. Navy assigned the warship to a nuclear weapons test at the Bikini Atoll in 1946. Having survived two nuclear blasts one aerial and one underwater Prinz Eugen with minor damage was towed to Enubuj Island which was a part of Kwajalein Atoll. There the cruiser was the target of another underwater nuclear explosion. The ship stayed afloat again but the damage caused, coupled with the lack of a concerted effort for survivability, resulted in it eventually capsizing and sinking.
+
After the ceasefire in Europe, Prinz Eugen was handed over to the U.S. Navy as a war prize. After a detailed study of the ship's design, the U.S. Navy assigned the warship to a nuclear weapons test at the Bikini Atoll in 1946. Having survived two nuclear blasts one aerial and one underwater Prinz Eugen with minor damage was towed to Enubuj Island which was a part of Kwajalein Atoll. There the cruiser was the target of another underwater nuclear explosion. The ship stayed afloat again but the damage caused, coupled with the lack of a concerted effort for survivability, resulted in it eventually capsizing and sinking.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
Line 126: Line 147:
  
 
;Skins
 
;Skins
 +
 
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_cruiser_prinz_eugen Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_cruiser_prinz_eugen Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
Line 136: Line 158:
 
File:Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 05.jpg|
 
File:Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 05.jpg|
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
−
 
 
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Devblog Images" heights="150">
 
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Devblog Images" heights="150">
 
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
 
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
Line 152: Line 173:
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 +
 +
;[[Admiral Hipper (Family)|Related development]]
 +
 +
* [[Admiral Hipper]]
  
 
;Vessels of a similar role, configuration or era
 
;Vessels of a similar role, configuration or era
 +
 
* [[IJN Mogami]]
 
* [[IJN Mogami]]
 
* [[USS Northampton (CA-26)|USS Northampton]]
 
* [[USS Northampton (CA-26)|USS Northampton]]
Line 159: Line 185:
 
* [[HMS London (69)]]
 
* [[HMS London (69)]]
 
* [[Zara]]
 
* [[Zara]]
 +
 +
;Other
 +
 +
* [[RN Eugenio di Savoia]] - Italian cruiser that shared the namesake with Prinz Eugen (Prince Eugene of Savoy)
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
Line 168: Line 198:
  
 
=== References ===
 
=== References ===
 +
 +
;Citations
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
−
=== Bibliography ===
+
;Bibliography
  
 
* WW2 Cruisers. (n.d.). Hipper Class. Retrieved November 13, 2020. [https://www.world-war.co.uk/germany/hipper.php Website]
 
* WW2 Cruisers. (n.d.). Hipper Class. Retrieved November 13, 2020. [https://www.world-war.co.uk/germany/hipper.php Website]
 
* Rico, J. M. (1998). The Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen. Retrieved November 13, 2020. [https://www.kbismarck.com/prinzeugen.html Website]
 
* Rico, J. M. (1998). The Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen. Retrieved November 13, 2020. [https://www.kbismarck.com/prinzeugen.html Website]
  
 +
{{ShipManufacturer Germaniawerft}}
 
{{Germany heavy cruisers}}
 
{{Germany heavy cruisers}}
 
{{Germany premium ships}}
 
{{Germany premium ships}}

Latest revision as of 20:30, 9 November 2024

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
Prinz Eugen
germ_cruiser_prinz_eugen.png
GarageImage Prinz Eugen.jpg
ArtImage Prinz Eugen.png
Prinz Eugen
Germany flag.png Germany
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
5.7 5.7 5.7
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
Show in game

Description

The Prinz Eugen was the third of the Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers and the last to be completed by the Kriegsmarine. She was ordered from the Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel and was laid down on 23 April 1936 as part of the German rearmament programme following the Anglo-German Naval Agreement a year prior, and was later launched on 22 August 1938.

After being commissioned in 1940 and patrolling around the Atlantic alongside the battleship Bismarck in early May 1941, Prinz Eugen would take part in her most famous engagements in the Battle of the Denmark Strait later that month, in which the pair managed to sink the British flagship HMS Hood and damage the battleship Prince of Wales. However, Eugen suffered a fuel tank leak and was forced to part ways with Bismarck, leaving the latter to her demise a few days later. After emergency repairs and problems with her engines and turbine, Prinz Eugen was ordered to be docked in Brest, occupied France, for extensive repair. After spending half a year in Brest and being the target of frequent air raids by the RAF, Prinz Eugen, along with battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, was ordered to break through the English Channel in January 1942. The next month, Eugen's stern was struck by a torpedo from the submarine HMS Trident, resulting in extensive damage to the rudder. After completing her repair in 1943, Prinz Eugen was sent to the Baltic Sea to provide fire support for the retreating German army on the Eastern Front, which she did until the German capitulation in 1945. She and Nürnberg were the only German bluewater warships to survive the war intact.

After the war, Prinz Eugen was later awarded to the United States as reparation. The US Navy subsequently conducted extensive examinations on various German machinery. After which, Prinz Eugen's career literally ended with a bang when she was used as one of the targets for the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests in 1946.

The Prinz Eugen was introduced as a premium pack in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"and was removed from the store after the 2024 May sales. It has since been made available for Golden Eagles Ge icon.png in the 2024 Launch Anniversary Celebration mini event.

It is perhaps one of the most famous cruisers of World War II. Compared to her sister ship, Admiral Hipper, Eugen is in her final 1945 configuration with a substantial increase in AA firepower and crew count. This is effectively a double-edged sword; on one hand, she is more survivable than her sister ship and better protected against aircraft, while on the other hand, her large amounts of AA mounts mean that she will frequently catch fire whenever hit. Aside from this, Eugen is largely the same as Hipper in playstyle, being an all-around heavy cruiser with a particular focus on her high-velocity 8-inch guns, capable of engaging any targets she could face.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Citadel80 / 80 / 30 mm
Main fire tower160 / 70 / 90 mm
Hull25 mm (steel)
Superstructure10 mm (steel)
Number of section8
Displacement18 210 t
Crew1 776 people

As with her sister ship Admiral Hipper, the Prinz Eugen features some of the best protection of all cruisers in the game. Her hull is covered with several layers of armour in a "turtleback" layout specifically designed to soak up and contain a lot of damage, save for some large calibre AP shells which can still penetrate multiple layers of armour. She also has a very high crew count, with 1,776 sailors.

Unfortunately, the Prinz Eugen's real-life fame will make her a priority target: expect to be showered with shells of all calibres from enemies and putting out the fires caused by them often. Additionally, the Prinz Eugen also has a well-known weak spot in her front turret magazine which enemies will target to take her out as soon as possible.

Due to how frequently and easily your secondary and AA armaments will be disabled (with their allocated crew members being knocked out in the process), it is recommended not to repair them in order to reduce crew loss until you've escaped from enemy fire.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB70 / 25 km/h
RB60 / 22 km/h

For a ship of this size and displacement, the Prinz Eugen's top speed is fairly good at 70 km/h (AB) or 60 km/h (RB). However, due to her mass and high centre of gravity, the Prinz Eugen suffers from excessive listing problem that reduce her traverse speed and throw off the aiming reticules into the air. This can be fatal if the ship is flooding, as too much listing angle can result in the ship capsizing and sinking.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 70 25
RB/SB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 60 22

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB5 903 Sl icon.png
RB6 496 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts800 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 500 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 340 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 450 / 600 / 50 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 190 / 190 / 190 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Mods ship anti fragmentation protection.png
Shrapnel Protection
Mods ship venting.png
Ventilation
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Mods ship ammo wetting.png
Ammo Wetting
Mods new aa caliber turrets.png
Anti-Air Armament Targeting
Mods he frag dist fuse ship.png
105mm_germany_skc32_navy_dist_fuse_he_ammo_pack
Mods tank ammo.png
203mm_ger_skc34_pzgr_navy_apc_ammo_pack
Mods new aux caliber turrets.png
Auxiliary Armament Targeting
Mods tank ammo.png
105mm_germany_skc32_navy_AP_ammo_pack
Mods tank ammo.png
203mm_ger_skc34_sprgr_bdz_navy_he_base_fuze_ammo_pack
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Mods ship rangefinder.png
Improved Rangefinder
Mods torpedo.png
Torpedo Mode
Mods shipSupportPlane.png
Hydroplane

Armament

Primary armament

4 х Turret2 x 20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 cannon
Ammunition280 rounds
Vertical guidance-10° / 37°
Main article: 20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 (203 mm)

The Prinz Eugen's primary armaments consists of eight 203 mm/60 SK C/34 cannons arranged in four twin turrets mounted A-Bs-Xs-Y. The gun is notable for being effective at dealing damage to all kinds of targets save for battleship at ranges. The gun has a good reload time of 12 seconds (ace crew) and has a decent firing arc, giving the Prinz Eugen a consistent damage output against enemy ships.

The 203 mm guns has three shell choice; an average HE shell with 8.8 kg TNTe, a SAP shell with decent penetration (160 mm at 10 km) and sizeable filler of 5.35 kg TNTe, and a powerful APCBC shell which have very high penetration (265 mm at 10 km), this allows the Prinz Eugen to deal damage against heavily-armoured dreadnoughts up close, and especially deadly at closer range against any targets. As each shell have a high velocity of 925 m/s, this results into good accuracy and thus make aiming easier.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
1,000 m 2,500 m 5,000 m 7,500 m 10,000 m 15,000 m
20.3 cm L/4.7 Kz HE HE 61 61 61 61 61 61
20.3 cm L/4.4 (m.Hb) APBC APCBC 421 378 316 266 226 170
20.3 cm L/4.7 Bdz (m.Hb) SAP SAPBC 242 218 182 153 130 98
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(s) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
20.3 cm L/4.7 Kz HE HE 925 122 0 0.1 8.88 79° 80° 81°
20.3 cm L/4.4 (m.Hb) APBC APCBC 925 122 0.035 9 2.65 48° 63° 71°
20.3 cm L/4.7 Bdz (m.Hb) SAP SAPBC 925 122 0.035 9 5.35 48° 63° 71°

Secondary armament

6 х Turret2 x 10.5 cm/60 SK C/33 AA cannon
Ammunition840 rounds
Main article: SK C/33 AA (105 mm)

These cannons are great for taking out destroyers, as they have a good rate of fire and damage output. They also makes decent anti-air guns for high altitude bombers, though not particularly reliable they will definitely make bomb drops harder to pull off. Depending on which target you want to focus on you may load different shells: HE shells for destroyers and other smaller vessels, time-fused HE for anti-air duties if there are a lot of bombers in the sky, and APHE for well-armoured destroyers. You can take manual control of the secondary guns (alt+2 by default), making them more effective and giving you the ability to change the shells depending on the situation you are in. However, this will leave you vulnerable to other cruisers because you will be focusing most of your attention on other vehicles, so it may be better to level up your AI gunners and leave the job to them, while you focus on other cruisers or destroyers with your powerful main guns.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
1,000 m 2,500 m 5,000 m 7,500 m 10,000 m 15,000 m
Sprgr. L/4.4 Kpf.Z HE 20 20 20 20 20 20
Sprgr. L/4.4 Zt.Z HE-TF 20 20 20 20 20 20
L/4.2 AP APHE 178 146 106 78 59 46
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(s) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Sprgr. L/4.4 Kpf.Z HE 900 15.1 0 0.1 1,550 79° 80° 81°
Sprgr. L/4.4 Zt.Z HE-TF 900 15.1 0 0.1 1,550 79° 80° 81°
L/4.2 AP APHE 860 15.8 0.015 5 343.2 47° 60° 65°

Anti-aircraft armament

18 х Turret4 cm Bofors Flak 28 cannon
Ammunition2000 rounds
Belt capacity4 rounds
Fire rate160 shots/min
6 х Turret4 x 2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 automatic cannon
Ammunition8000 rounds
Belt capacity40 rounds
Fire rate480 shots/min
2 х Turret2 x 2 cm/65 C/30 automatic cannon
Ammunition4000 rounds
Belt capacity20 rounds
Fire rate276 shots/min
Main articles: Bofors Flak 28 (40 mm), 2 cm/65 C/30 (20 mm), 2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 (20 mm)

The Prinz Eugen is covered with 40 mm and 20 mm AA guns, boasting an overall much more effective defence than her sister ship the Admiral Hipper. These guns easily protect the ship from close-range air assaults, while the 105 mm secondary guns will make sure high altitude bombers think twice before presenting themselves as an easy target, though they lack the proximity-fused shells sported by American and British heavy AA guns. It is best to aim the guns yourself if they are coming in from high altitude because most strategic bombers can't manoeuvre very well, making them easy to lead and aim at. The 40 mm and 20 mm autocannons are also great at wiping out torpedo boats and other small vessels. Since they often carry torpedoes that can knock out or critically damage you, the wall of autocannon fire will make those torpedo boats think twice before rushing you, allowing you to focus more on the main target like other cruisers or destroyers.

Additional armament

Setup 126 x 533 mm G7a torpedo
Main article: G7a (533 mm)

The Prinz Eugen is equipped with 26 G7a torpedoes launched from four triple launchers placed in pairs, twelve of them are loaded inside the tubes (six on each side) while other ten is stocked in ready racks. Up to 12 torpedoes can be launched from each side of the ship. Due to the quantity of torpedoes, the Prinz Eugen can launch barrages of torpedoes to damage one or more ships at medium-to-long ranges.

Scout plane

Main article: Ar 196 A-3

Located amidships is a single catapult for an Arado Ar 196 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 50 kg bombs, and capping zones, the Ar 196 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). It is essentially the event aircraft except with smoke generators, so it will be a familiar unit for those who have the event version. Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

Usage in battles

The Prinz Eugen is a solid ship with all-around strength that allows her to tip the balance of the team with great firepower and protection. Due to this, Prinz Eugen's presence is enough to draw the attention of most of the enemy team. Whether this is a blessing or a curse depends on how well you're able to exploit the Prinz Eugen's assets.

In a situation with only a few or no dreadnoughts, the Prinz Eugen is able to act as a vanguard for the team. Due to your status as a priority target, you can distract the enemy team into trying to take you down, and allowing your teammates to take a clean shot at an enemy. You can also use your large quantities of torpedoes to kill a preoccupied enemy, as they will be focused more on gunnery and will often does not have enough time to react to an incoming torpedoes.

To maximize the Prinz Eugen's protection, angling is a must. You can contain a lot of damage by exposing only one side of the hull while preserving the crew by proper damage control. Prioritise fire extinguishing to reduce crew loss as the ship will catch fire very often, and do not repair the secondaries and AA until the coast is clear as your replacement crew will ended up becoming a cannon fodder. Flood damage is generally manageable as long as you do not attempt to traverse your ship and cause a severe listing in process. Although she remains relatively safe from flooding damage with ~80% of buoyancy left, you might need to repair the leaks as soon as the ship starts flooding (~97%) to reduce water draining time, though this is not as important as fire damage control and you can repair them later on when the flood is close to dangerous level.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • High velocity 8-inch guns with great penetration, can take on any kind of targets
  • Layered armour provides tough protection against most shells
  • Powerful AA armaments, effective at all ranges
  • Decent top speed despite its size
  • Very high crew count increases her survivability
  • One scout seaplane

Cons:

  • Priority target: she will almost always be targeted by the enemy team
  • Catches fire very often in a firefight exchange
  • Excessive listing on a turn often results in poor accuracy
  • Armour is not thick enough to withstand some high-calibre shells
  • Main battery magazines are located above shell rooms, meaning that a detonation is likely to be fatal

History

The Prinz Eugen underway, circa 1943.

The Prinz Eugen was the third and final member of the completed Admiral Hipper-class of heavy cruisers. Launched in August 1938, she saw extensive service during WWII, including in the sinking of HMS Hood. Following the cessation of hostilities, she was transferred to the Americans who used her as a test target in the Baker nuclear test. Due to the damage received during the tests, she capsized and sank before repairs could be made.[1]

Design and development

The German Kriegsmarine began to design heavy cruisers in the early 1930s, despite the fact that the Treaty of Versailles banned them from building any ships of the type. Two designs were considered - a heavy cruiser with eight 203 mm (8-inch) guns in four double turrets, and a light cruiser with twelve 152 mm (6-inch) guns in four triple turrets, similar to those found on the Nürnberg. In the end, the heavier option was chosen; however, numerous design improvements resulted in the ship being significantly larger than originally intended.[1]

The final design displaced 14,247 tons and was 205 metres long, larger than the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee.[1] Armament was to consist of four dual 203 mm turrets, twelve 105 mm dual-purpose secondary guns and numerous anti-aircraft guns. The ship also carried 22 torpedoes in four triple launchers with 10 reloads, as well as three Arado Ar 196 scout planes.[1] The main armour belt was between 70-80 mm in thickness, and armour of up to 160 mm thickness could be found on the conning tower. The ship could reach 32.5 kts (60 km/h) and had a range of 5050 nautical miles at 15 kts.[1]

The German Kriegsmarine placed orders for a total of five Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers, to be known as Admiral Hipper, Blücher, Prinz Eugen, Seydlitz, and Lützow. Of these, the Seydlitz and Lützow would never be completed; Lützow would be sold to the Soviet Union and eventually scrapped, while Seydlitz was scuttled in 1945 after plans to convert her into an aircraft carrier failed. The contract for Prinz Eugen was placed in November of 1935. Following three years of construction, the ship was launched in August of 1938.[1]

Service life

The Prinz Eugen was then fitted out and underwent numerous sea trials, before being formally commissioned on August 1st 1940. The ship then conducted exercises with U-boats and the battleship Bismarck, between September 1940 and April 1941.[2]

On May 18th, the Prinz Eugen accompanied the newly-commissioned Bismarck in Operation Rheinübung, or Exercise Rhine. After arriving in the Denmark Strait, the pair of ships engaged the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Hood. During the engagement, Prinz Eugen was able to hit Hood once before a shot from Bismarck detonated the battlecruiser's magazine, resulting in her destruction with the loss of all but 3 of her crew. After the Hood sank, the Prinz Eugen hit the Prince of Wales three times, without suffering any damage herself.[2]

The Prinz Eugen moored in Norway; Admiral Scheer can be seen beside her.

Due to the Bismarck's damaged state, the two warships broke off soon after the engagement. Prinz Eugen sailed for Brest, where she was repaired. Bismarck was not so lucky, sinking after a long engagement with the battleships HMS Rodney and King George V. While the Prinz Eugen was docked at the Brest shipyard, she was bombed and heavily damaged, losing 60 crew members. Soon after, she participated in the "Channel Dash", escorting battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau through the English Channel towards Kiel. She survived the dash without damage, having fired numerous 203 mm shells at pursuing British destroyers.[2]

In February of 1942, the Prinz Eugen departed for Norway with the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer. En-route, the submarine HMS Trident scored a torpedo hit on Prinz Eugen's stern. The hit caused severe damage to her stern and rudder, but she was still able to arrive at Trondheim, Norway under her own power. There, she joined Tirpitz and Admiral Scheer to perform attacks on Allied shipping convoys.[2]

In January of 1945, as the situation looked dire for Germany, the Prinz Eugen was dispatched to Norway once again, this time to evacuate refugees and provide support. Between 10 March and 4 April 1945, the Prinz Eugen expended almost 5,000 rounds of 203 mm ammo. She also lost 9 men as a result of a Russian rocket. On May 7th 1945, along with the surrender of mainland German forces, the Prinz Eugen and Nürnberg surrendered in Copenhagen, Denmark.[2]

Prinz Eugen's wreck upside-down in Kwajelein Atoll. Note that the port-side propeller is removed.

After the surrender, Prinz Eugen was handed to the British. Along with several other German and Japanese prize ships, she was handed over to the United States where she was commissioned as USS Prinz Eugen (IX-300). In early 1946, the Prinz Eugen traversed the Panama canal and sailed to Bikini Atoll, where she would carry out her final duty as a test vessel in the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests.[2]

On July 1st 1946, the 'Able' nuclear bomb was dropped on an array of vessels, including the Prinz Eugen. The ship, 1.1 km from the epicentre, suffered only minor damage. The second 'Baker' Nuclear test also failed to do significant damage. However, the shocks of two nuclear explosions caused leaks to form in the Prinz Eugen's hull. As well, the ship could not be repaired due to the high levels of radiation.[2] On December 22nd 1946, the Prinz Eugen developed a severe list, and capsized in Kwajalein Atoll. The ship was never salvaged due to the levels of radiation, but one of the ship's propellers was removed and installed near Kiel as a memorial for those who served in the Second World War.[2]

Devblog

Prinz Eugen, named after an 18th-century Austrian general, was the third and last ship of the German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers to see completion. Although being ready for commissioning in July 1940, an RAF air raid on Kiel lightly damaged the warship, causing its commissioning to be delayed until August.

After passing sea trials in late 1940, Prinz Eugen was assigned to its first, and arguably its most well-known combat mission - Operation Rheinübung - alongside battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Following some repairs in France, Prinz Eugen was assigned to operations in Norwegian waters in 1942, though this undertaking was cut short by a successful torpedo attack performed by the British submarine HMS Trident, which heavily damaged Prinz Eugen. As a result, Prinz Eugen was ordered back to Germany for repairs.

Once repaired, Prinz Eugen returned to service in the late stages of WWII, acting initially as a training vessel for naval officers and providing artillery support for German ground units on the Eastern Front later on.

After the ceasefire in Europe, Prinz Eugen was handed over to the U.S. Navy as a war prize. After a detailed study of the ship's design, the U.S. Navy assigned the warship to a nuclear weapons test at the Bikini Atoll in 1946. Having survived two nuclear blasts one aerial and one underwater Prinz Eugen with minor damage was towed to Enubuj Island which was a part of Kwajalein Atoll. There the cruiser was the target of another underwater nuclear explosion. The ship stayed afloat again but the damage caused, coupled with the lack of a concerted effort for survivability, resulted in it eventually capsizing and sinking.

Media

Skins
Images
  • Store Pack Images
  • Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 01.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 02.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 03.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 04.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 05.jpg
  • Devblog Images
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 01.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 02.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 03.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 04.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 05.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 06.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 07.jpg
  • Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 08.jpg

See also

Related development
Vessels of a similar role, configuration or era
Other
  • RN Eugenio di Savoia - Italian cruiser that shared the namesake with Prinz Eugen (Prince Eugene of Savoy)

External links

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 World War Co (n.d.)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Rico, J (1998)
Bibliography
  • WW2 Cruisers. (n.d.). Hipper Class. Retrieved November 13, 2020. Website
  • Rico, J. M. (1998). The Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen. Retrieved November 13, 2020. Website


Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft
Destroyers 
Type 1934A  Z12 Erich Giese
Heavy Cruisers 
Admiral Hipper-class  Prinz Eugen
Battleships 
Bayern-class  SMS Sachsen

Germany heavy cruisers
Admiral Hipper-class  Admiral Hipper · Prinz Eugen
Deutschland-class  Admiral Graf Spee

Germany premium ships
Motor torpedo boats  LS 4 Esau · KM-5 · S-204 Lang · S-701
Minelayers  VS-8
Sub-chasers  M-802
Frigates  Lübeck
Destroyers  Jaguar · Luchs · T31 · Z20 Karl Galster · Z25 · Z47
Light cruisers  Karlsruhe
Heavy cruisers  Prinz Eugen
Battleships  SMS Nassau

Retrieved from "https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Prinz_Eugen&oldid=194768"