by Dave Saxton » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:57 pm
KGV was rated with a fuel consumption of .57 tons per mile at 16 knots. This is less than Yamato's rating 19 knots, but the rating is taken at 16 knots. The fuel consumption is probably about the same at 19 knots, or .75 tons/mile. I can't find any data on a KGV class fuel consumption at 27-28 knots.

Average fuel consumption for an Iowa class battleship in 1945 was ~.75 tons per mile. This is not a specif fuel consumption at a specific speed, but the average over a period of several weeks. In one case involving Missouri, the highest speed obtained was 27 knots, and the average speed for the period was 18 knots.

In a four day operation in March 42, Tirpitz and two destroyers consumed 8,100 tons on fuel oil. This involves the fuel consumed by the DD's, and it doesn't tell us how much of that Tirpitz alone consumed, but it gives us an idea of how much fuel one modern BB and escorts could consume in ~96 hours of combat, or near combat operations. I believe that Tirpitz consumed more fuel at 18-19 knots than the Yamato and Iowa class consumed, but I'm not sure.


by José M. Rico » Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:51 am

Dave Saxton wrote:
In a four day operation in March 42, Tirpitz and two destroyers consumed 8,100 tons on fuel oil. This involves the fuel consumed by the DD's, and it doesn't tell us how much of that Tirpitz alone consumed, but it gives us an idea of how much fuel one modern BB and escorts could consume in ~96 hours of combat, or near combat operations. I believe that Tirpitz consumed more fuel at 18-19 knots than the Yamato and Iowa class consumed, but I'm not sure.

Hello Dave,

According to Tirpitz's War Diary, she left Trondheim at 1600 hours on 6 March supposedly with her tanks full.
At 0800 hours on the 8th her fuel (Heizöl) stores were 6,460 m3.
At 0830 hours on the 9th, just before the Albacore torpedo attack, she had 5,785 m3.
At 0800 hours on 13 March she still had 3,490 m3 left (after having transferred 1,422 m3 to several destroyers and torpedo boats in Bogen Bay on 10 March).

Based on trials, at 19 knots Tirpitz could steam for 8,870 nm, 6.963 nm at 24 knots, and 4,728 nm at 28 knots. Since her tank capacity was 8,297 tons, the fuel consumption can be easily calculated.

At 28 knots Tirpitz fuel consumption would be about 49 tons per hour. That means that in theory she could steam at 28 knots for a week before running out of fuel.

At 19 knots Tirpitz consumed 17.7 tons per hour.

José
Last edited by José M. Rico on Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.