Prinz Eugen, German Battle Cruiser

History of the Prinz Eugen, German battle cruiser in naval art prints by leading naval artists including Robert Taylor. Prinz Eugen shown with German destroyers and Torpedo boats shelling Russian positions, available from Cranston Fine Arts.

The heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen, part of the Hipper class (second group.) it was intended to have two sister ships Seydlitz and Lutzow both never completed. The Prinz Eugen built at Germaniawerft at Kiel and launched on the 22nd August 1936 and commissioned 1st August 1940. She accompanied the Bismarck on the Bismarck's breakout into the Atlantic, but escaped, later she returned to the Atlantic with the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from Brest to Germany. After Germany's surrender the Prinze Eugen was ceded to the USA at the Potsdam agreement. The Us Navy crew although trained by Kriegsmarine personnel, were unable to maintain the Prinz Eugen's machinery and a complete breakdown occurred with the ship needing to be towed the rest of the way to Pearl harbor. She was used as a target in the A bomb tests during operation Crossroads. being the target in two tests, "Able" and "Baker". The Prinz Eugen survived both tests without structural damage but being contaminated. She was towed to Kwajalein and decommissioned. On the 21st December due to damage she started to list, unable to correct the situation the Prinz Eugen was towed to Enunuj reef where she capsized and sank at position 167 Degrees 41 East and 8 degrees 44 south where she remains to this day.

Displacement: 16974 standard, fully loaded 19,050 tons. Speed: 32.5 knots Compliment 1600

Armament: eight 203mm 60 calibre guns in four pairs. twelve 105mm in six pairs. twelve 37mm in six pairs Eight 20mm and twelve 533mm Torpedo Tubes in four groups of three tubes. also carried three aircraft.

Battle of the Denmark Straits by Randall Wilson.
5 editions.
One edition features 3 additional signatures.
£2.50 - £400.00

Operation Cerberus, Channel Dash by Ivan Berryman.
4 editions.
One edition features an additional signature.
£9.00 - £200.00

Bismarck - The Final Voyage by Anthony Saunders.
7 of 8 editions available.
1 of 2 editions featuring up to 3 additional signatures are available.
£2.50 - £6500.00

Prinz Eugen by Ivan Berryman.
6 of 7 editions available.
£2.50 - £500.00

Breakout by Randall Wilson.
13 editions.
3 of the 13 editions feature up to 3 additional signatures.
£2.90 - £500.00

Break Out by Anthony Saunders.
3 of 4 editions available.
All 4 editions feature an additional signature.
£95.00 - £300.00

Voyage into Destiny by Robert Taylor.
One of 4 editions available.
All 3 editions featuring up to 8 additional signatures are sold out.
£2.00

Prinz Eugen by Ivan Berryman.
4 editions.
£2.90 - £20.00

Big Brother, Little Sister (Bismarck and Prinz Eugen ) By Randall Wilson.
5 editions.
£2.50 - £500.00

The Channel Dash by Ivan Berryman.
7 editions.
One edition features an additional signature.
£2.50 - £500.00

Offshore Bombardment by Robert Taylor
One edition.
The edition features 2 additional signature(s).
£210.00

The Channel Dash - Prinz Eugen. (P)
This single edition is sold out.
The edition features 2 additional signatures.

The Channel Dash by Robert Taylor.
Both editions sold out.
One edition features 5 additional signatures.

Text for the above items :

Battle of the Denmark Straits by Randall Wilson.

With salvos landing close, the Bismarck with Prinz Eugen is shown loosing off the salvo that destroyed HMS Hood.

Operation Cerberus, Channel Dash by Ivan Berryman.

February 1942 and Viz. Admiral Ciliaxs mighty Scharnhorst leads her sister Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen up the English Channel during Operation Cerberus, their daring breakout from the port of Brest on the French Atlantic coast to the relative safety of Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbuttel. All three ships survived what became known as the Channel Dash, not without damage, but the operation proved a huge propaganda success for Germany and a crushing embarrassment for the British. A number of torpedo boats are in attendance, including Kondor and Falke and the Z class destroyer Friedrich Ihn in the distance.

Bismarck - The Final Voyage by Anthony Saunders.

One of the finest battleships of all time, Bismarck was built by the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg and launched in February 1939. Her first duty was for commerce raiding in the north Atlantic. Together with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, the destroyers Z10, Z16 and Z23 and a minesweeper. The Bismarck, commanded by Vice Admiral Gunther Lutjens, left her last anchorage at Grimstadt Fjord in Norway. Once Bismarcks departure was confirmed all available British forces were deployed to meet the threat. On the 24th of May 1941 the Bismarck sailed into naval history - sinking the battlescruiser and pride of the British fleet - HMS Hood. But Bismarck would have little time to celebrate, she was sunk by a scorned British fleet three days later. Here Bismarck is depicted on the evening of the 21st May 1941 entering the open sea on her fateful final voyage.

Prinz Eugen by Ivan Berryman.

The German Heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen is depicted in a quiet moment at Gotenhaven in April 1941 whilst engaged in exercises with her consort, the mighty Bismarck that would eventually lead to Operation Rheinubung,. Bismarck herself is alongside in the distance, where final preparations for their foray into the North sea and beyond are being made.

Breakout by Randall Wilson.

The Bismarck is seen taking the lead from the Prinz Eugen on the breakout from Bergen May 1941.

Break Out by Anthony Saunders.

As Me109s from 3./JG77 and Me110s from ZG76 provide aerial cover, the pride of the Kriegsmarine - the battleships Bismarck - together with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, destroyers Z10 Hans Lody and Z16 Friedrich Eckholdt, and a support escort fleet break out from Norwegian waters into the open sea on the evening of 21st May 1941. Heading for the rich pickings of the North Atlantic convoy routes, her ill-fated voyage would last only a few days. After a shattering victory over HMS Hood, Bismarck was caught and sunk by the Royal Navy Home Fleet a few days later on 27th May 1941. There were just 115 survivors from her complement of over 2000 men.

Voyage into Destiny by Robert Taylor.

Leaving the port of Gdynia on May 18th 1941, two large German warships stealthily zig-zagged their way up the coast of Norway at the outset of what was to become one pf the shortest, most fiercely fought naval contests of the Second World War. Operation Rheinubung was under way. With Fleet Commander Admiral Lutjens on the bridge, the brand new battleship Bismarck would leave the relative safety of the Norwegian fjords, destined for the busy shipping lanes in the Atlantic. After refuelling, and in company with the battlecruiser Prinz Eugen, on May 21st the two heavily armed warships headed for the Denmark Strait and out into the wide expanse of the Atlantic. Bound for active convoy routes, Bismarck would play havoc with vital Allied merchant shipping. Faster than almost any warship afloat, the magnificent new 42,000 ton monsters awesome firepower would prove no match for the lightly protected merchantmen or their escorts, as they laboriously plied their desperately needed cargo across the ocean towards Europe. It seemed she was invincible. Within three days of sailing, Bismarcks first encounter was a triumph! Intercepted south west of Iceland by the British Home Fleet, the German battleships gunners went into action for the first time, their second and third salvos striking the battlecruiser Hood. She exploded and sank within three minutes. But Bismarcks success brought the wrath of the Royal Navy upon her and, just three days later, on the morning of May 27th, with her rudder damaged by a torpedo, the pride of the German navy fell to the guns of the British Home Fleet. Outnumbered, she fought bravely, but succumbed, the magnificent new battleships active war lasting less than a week. The battleship Bismarck off the coast of Norway at the start of Operation Rheinubung. Under the watchful eye of Jagdeschwader 77s Me 109 fighters, in company with the battlecruiser Prinz Eugen, and destroyers Hans Lody and Z23, Germanys magnificent new battleship Bismarck is seen manoeuvring near Korsfjord Bergen on May 21, 1941. That evening, with Prinz Eugen, she will leave for Arctic waters, the Denmark Strait, the Atlantic, and destiny. Within days the pride of the German Kriegsmarine will have passed into history.

Prinz Eugen by Ivan Berryman.

The heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen slips quietly through the waters of Kiel Harbour as one of her own Arado Ar.196s flies overhead. In the background, Bismarck, wearing her Baltic camouflage, is alongside taking on supplies.

Big Brother, Little Sister (Bismarck and Prinz Eugen ) By Randall Wilson.

Bismarck and Prinz Eugen exiting the Denmark Strait before the historic encounter with HMS Hood.

The Channel Dash by Ivan Berryman.

February 1942 and Viz. Admiral Ciliaxs mighty Scharnhorst leads her sister Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen up the English Channel during Operation Cerberus, their daring breakout from the port of Brest on the French Atlantic coast to the relative safety of Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbuttel. All three ships survived what became known as the Channel Dash, not without damage, but the operation proved a huge propaganda success for Germany and a crushing embarrassment for the British. A number of torpedo boats are in attendance, including Kondor and Falke and the Z class destroyer Friedrich Ihn in the distance.

Offshore Bombardment by Robert Taylor

The Prinz Eugen, one of the finest and most famous ships in the German Navy, shelling Russian shore positions in Western Samland, the Baltic, January 1945 Earlier in the war The Prinz Eugen took part in the sinking of H.M.S. Hood and later the Channel Dash.

The Channel Dash - Prinz Eugen. (P)

Swordfish of No.825 Sqn FAA attack the might German ship Prinz Eugen during The Channel Dash.

The Channel Dash by Robert Taylor.

Mesherschmitt ME109s of JG 2 fly close escort as the German capital Ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, accompanied by a naval flotilla, round the tip of the Cherbourg Peninsula at dawn, February 12th 1942.