Prinz Eugen was an Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser that served with Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine during World War II. The ship was laid down in April 1936, launched in August 1938, and entered service after the outbreak of war, in August 1940.
Prinz Eugen saw action during Operation Rheinübung, an attempted breakout into the Atlantic Ocean with the battleship Bismarck in May 1941. The two ships destroyed the British battlecruiser HMS Hood and moderately damaged the battleship HMS Prince of Wales in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Prinz Eugen was detached from Bismarck during the operation to raid Allied merchant shipping, but this was cut short due to engine troubles. After putting into occupied France and undergoing repairs, the ship participated in Operation Cerberus, a daring daylight dash through the English Channel back to Germany. In February 1942, Prinz Eugen was deployed to Norway, although her time stationed there was curtailed when she was torpedoed by the British submarine Trident days after arriving in Norwegian waters. The torpedo severely damaged the ship’s stern, which necessitated repairs in Germany. Upon returning to active service, the ship spent several months training officer cadets in the Baltic before serving as artillery support for the retreating German Army on the Eastern Front.
After the war, Prinz Eugen was given over to the U.S. Navy and briefly became USS Prinz Eugen (IX-300). She survived both two atomic bomb blasts at Bikini Atoll in 1946, with only a broken main mast to show for it. Prinz Eugen survived the blasts, but she became frightfully radioactive.
After the tests, Prinz Eugen was towed to Kwajalein Atoll where she ultimately capsized and sank in December 1946. The wreck remains partially visible above the water approximately two miles northwest of Bucholz Army Airfield, on the edge of Enubuj.
Photographs of Prinz Eugen under German control can be found here.
Photographs of USS Prinz Eugen IX-300 Under US Control
Prinz Eugen 1945View forward from the mainmast Prinz Eugen in 1945Prinz Eugen IX-300USS Prinz Eugen IX-300 in Philadelphia February 1946The forward deck of USS Prinz Eugen IX-300Prinz Eugen off Massachusetts 1946USS Prinz Eugen IX-300 off Philadelphia Naval Yard February 1946Prinz Eugen firing forward guns during tests in 1946Forecastle of USS Prinz Eugen in 1946Prinz Eugen Off Massachusetts 1946Cruiser Prinz Eugen off Massachusetts 23 January 1946 2Aerial port bow view of Prinz Eugen (IX-300) sailing from Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 10 March 1946
Photographs While Being Used During the Atomic Bomb Trials
Prinz Eugen IX-300 transiting the Panama Canal on 15 March 1946Prinz Eugen underway bound for the Pacific and the atomic bomb trialsUSS Prinz Eugen IX_300 anchored in Bikini Lagoon on 14 June 1946USS Prinz Eugen IX_300 at sea during Operation CrossroadsPrinz Eugen being decontaminated after serving as target in nuclear tests. Bikini Atoll – July 1946Sailors scrubbing down the deck of Prinz Eugen after an atomic bomb blast
Prinz Eugen was an Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser that served with Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine during World War II. The ship was laid down in April 1936, launched in August 1938, and entered service after the outbreak of war, in August 1940.
Prinz Eugen saw action during Operation Rheinübung, an attempted breakout into the Atlantic Ocean with the battleship Bismarck in May 1941. The two ships destroyed the British battlecruiser HMS Hood and moderately damaged the battleship HMS Prince of Wales in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Prinz Eugen was detached from Bismarck during the operation to raid Allied merchant shipping, but this was cut short due to engine troubles. After putting into occupied France and undergoing repairs, the ship participated in Operation Cerberus, a daring daylight dash through the English Channel back to Germany. In February 1942, Prinz Eugen was deployed to Norway, although her time stationed there was curtailed when she was torpedoed by the British submarine Trident days after arriving in Norwegian waters. The torpedo severely damaged the ship’s stern, which necessitated repairs in Germany. Upon returning to active service, the ship spent several months training officer cadets in the Baltic before serving as artillery support for the retreating German Army on the Eastern Front.
After the war, Prinz Eugen was given over to the U.S. Navy and briefly became USS Prinz Eugen (IX-300). She survived both two atomic bomb blasts at Bikini Atoll in 1946, with only a broken main mast to show for it. Prinz Eugen survived the blasts, but she became frightfully radioactive.
After the tests, Prinz Eugen was towed to Kwajalein Atoll where she ultimately capsized and sank in December 1946. The wreck remains partially visible above the water approximately two miles northwest of Bucholz Army Airfield, on the edge of Enubuj.
Prinz Eugen Under constructionPrinz Eugen being launchedPrinz Eugen being launchedPrinz Eugen Under construction next to Steiermark which was converted to the raider KormoranPrinz Eugen during fitting out 1939
Battle of the Denmark Strait
Shells from HMS Hood fall near Prinz Eugen, 24 May 1941
Channel Dash
Passing through the English Channel Prinz Eugen at 30 knots on February 1942 during Operation Cerberus, The Channel DashGneisenau and Scharnhorst trailing Prinz Eugen during Operation Cerberus, The Channel Dash Feb 1942
Damage
Prinz Eugen under repairs at Trondheim, Norway, after being torpedoed by the British submarine Trident on 23 February 1942Prinz Eugen’s Stern as it looked after emergency repairs in Norway in May 1942Prinz Eugen at sea 17 May 1942 with damaged sternImprovised stearing after Prinz Eugen’s emergency repairs in Norway in May 1942Prinz Eugen’s collision with Leipzig. At 2004 hours on 15 October 1944Prinz Eugen’s Bow as it looked after the ship accidentally rammed the light cruiser Leipzig
RAF Aerial Photography
Halifaxes of No. 35 Squadron RAF over the naval dockyard, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau are berthed Prinz Eugen middlePrinz Eugen BerthedRAF photo recon image of KMS Prinz Eugen underway in the Baltic sea off Gotenhafen (today Gdynia), 24 March 1945
General Photographs
Prinz Eugen anchored in the Baltic in the spring of 1941.Prinz Eugen superstructure, looking forward from alongsidePrinz EugenPrinz EugenPrinz EugenPrinz EugenPrinz EugenPrinz Eugen Kiel 1941Prinz Eugen refuelling the BismarckPrinz Eugen Mid-ships, with Arado Ar 196 floatplanePrinz Eugen Looking aft from the forecastlePrinz Eugen 1945Prinz EugenAdmiral Scheer and Prinz Eugen at Lofjord Feb 1942Prinz EugenPrinz EugenPrinz Eugen in the Lofjord near Trondheim in 1942. In the far background is the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper.Arrangement aft, showing Arado Ar 196 floatplane stowage, radar, A. A. directors and torpedo tubes
Armament
Prinz Eugen firing forward guns during tests in 194610.5 cm mount20mm Quad Oerlikon gun mounting20mm Quad Oerlikon gun mountingTorpedo LauncherRear of torpedo tubesPrinz Eugen’s torpedo workshop. The overhead rail was used to move torpedoes in and out of the workshopInside of gun turret of Prinz Eugen in 1946
Radar Antennas
Forward superstructure, showing antennas mounted on the main gun director and foremastFuMO 27 radar antennaFuMO 81 Berlin radar antenna atop the foremast of Prinz Eugen in 1945Looking forward from amidship after V-E Day, with FuMO 26 and FuMO 81 radar antennas
Post Surrender
Prinz Eugen with a smaller vessel alongside 9 May 1945 in CopenhagenPrinz Eugen with a smaller vessel alongside 9 May 1945 in CopenhagenPrinz Eugen under Danish guard in Copenhagen 1945Removing ammunition from Prinz Eugen after her surrender. 18 May 1945 CopenhagenKriegsmarine sailors disposing ammunition from Prinz Eugen, surrendered at Copenhagen, Denmark 1945Prinz Eugen in Copenhagen Denmark 1945After port superstructure, looking aft from alongside, soon after V-E DayPrinz Eugen in drydock at Wilhelmshaven, soon after V-E DayPrinz Eugen in a floating drydock at Wilhelmshaven, soon after V-E Day.Prinz Eugen stern, showing triple screws, rudder, a stern anchor and propeller guard boom
