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News from H-P Models, is it new to you? World War II German Carrier De Grasse 1943

Available from Pacific Front Hobbies. Retail price ~ $149.00

Concept/Program:
A series of five cruisers and merchant ships were planned for conversion starting 5/1942 as an effort to provide a practical naval aviation force. None of the ships was ever completed as a carrier, and most conversions were never started. All were cancelled late in 1942 or early in 1943, when the carrier programs were cancelled. These were not sisterships, but are listed together for convenience. These vessels are commonly identified by their original names; new names had not been assigned prior to cancellation of the conversions.

Design/Conversion:
Generally similar to Graf Zeppelin. The conversion would have involved removal of existing superstructure and construction of a new flight deck, hangar, large island, and a heavy defensive battery. Details varied among the ships.

Project II ~ cruiser De Grasse

• Displacement: 11,400 tons design
  
• Dimensions: 591.8 x 80 x 18.4 feet/180.4 x 24.4 x 5.6 meters
  
• Extreme Dimensions: 631.5 x 80 x 18.4 feet/192.5 x 24.4 x 5.6 meters
  
• Propulsion: Steam turbines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts, 110,000 shp, 32 knots
  
• Crew: unknown
  
• Armor: unknown
  
• Armament: 6 dual 4.1 inch AA, 6 dual 37 mm AA, 24 20 mm AA
  
• Aircraft: 23
  

"Built by Arsenal de Lorient as a French light cruiser Laid down 11/1938, suspended at the outbreak of war. Conversion abandoned 2/1943. Returned to Franch postwar, launched 11 August 1946 and completed 3 September 1956 as antiaircraft cruiser DeGrasse. Reconstructed 1966 as a command cruiser. Stricken 1973 and subsequently scrapped."