What If...?

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The GZ never would have made it out of the channel. First of all the British aircraft in the area would have far out numbered the Luftwaffe and she would not have had sufficient carrier support from BB's, Cruisers, and Destroyers.

 

[mosquitoman]

Still looks impressive though

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yes that it does. She would have been a beautiful ship.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

she would have looked even nicer to the crews of the attacking british ships with a couple of torps in her side........

 

[mosquitoman]

Too true

 

[Nonskimmer]

Well, the Russians used her for target practice after the war. A rather sad fate, I think.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

whilst it would have been interesting to see her but i don't think it's sad she was used as target practice...........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I actually do, it would have been neat to turn her into a museum or something.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well each to their own.........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Very true.

 

[cheddar cheese]

Im with DerAdler and NS here.

 

[Nonskimmer]

She would have made a grand museum. After all, she was Germany's only ever aircraft carrier.

 

[mosquitoman]

There was the Peter Strasser aswell but I don't think that even got commisioned

 

[Nonskimmer]

As far as I know, the hull of the Peter Strasser was only about 60 percent completed before she was scrapped. They already had one white elephant on their hands, with the Graf Zeppelin.

 

[Nonskimmer]

Some neat Graf Zeppelin model shots:

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeah the Peter Strasser was never even close to being finished. Atleast the GZ resembled an aircraft carrier. She deffinatly would have been a beautiful ship and would have been neat to see today.

 

[mosquitoman]

Great model NS, any idea what scale it's in?

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Did you build it, or is that a museum or something?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i'm sorry if i'm incorrect (what, me??) but i doubt NS made them..........

and wooden decks, hehe..........

 

[Nonskimmer]

Lanc's lack of faith in my model building skills is not misplaced (this time), I'm afraid.

The model is 1:100 scale. Here's the link.
http://www.bismarck-class.dk/shipmodels/german_models/grafzeppelinliedtke.html
Btw, the small circular platform near the bow was meant to contain a gun mount.

And lanc, wood planking on flight decks was far from unusual at the time. Virtually all of the Japanese and early American carriers had them.