Scharnhorst (as it appeared in February, 1942) The full load displacement was 38,900 tons, the waterline length 226 meters, and the draft 9.9 meters. The turbines produced 165,000 shaft horsepower, giving a top speed of 31.5 knots and a range of 7,100 nautical at 19 knots. Protection was provided by 350mm armor sides and two armor decks, one -50mm and the other 80mm. The armament was 9x 283mm (150 rounds per gun), 12x 150 mm (150 rpg), 14x 105mm (400 rug), 16x37mrn (2,000 rpg), 34x 20mm (2,000 rpg), 6x 533mm torpedo tubes (6 reloads), and 4x Arado 196. The 283mm, guns were an improved version of those aboard the pocket battleships, firing a 330 kg AP shell 40,930 meters at the maximum elevation of 40'. Behind the upper 283mm turret was the navigation bridge, with the armored conning tower surmounted by a 7 meter range finder semi-submerged into its rear.

The 20mm vierlings on the upper 283mm turret and the two forward 150 mm turrets were temporary additions for the Channel dash. At the base of the fore tower above the 150 mm turrets were twin 37 mm mounts, with two of the spherically shaped AA directors immediately aft of them. Above the 37 mm mounts and projecting out from the fore tower was the secondary armament range finder. Farther up the fore tower was the admiral's badge, with a forward facing searchlight above it On the foretop was a 10.5 meter range finder with a FuMo 27 radar attached to its face. The radar could be used for range finding or sea search. On the foretop platform were single 20mm mounts. The single 150 mm. guns amidships were in open backed mounts left over from a planned fourth pocket battleship. Aside from the less secure ammunition supply, the less protected gun crews, and the slower rate of fire, with a maximum elevation of 35 these guns fired a 45.3 kg shell only 22,000 meters, 1,000 meters less than the 150 mm twin turrets with their maximum elevation of 40' Above the single 150 mm guns were grouped most of the 105mm AA guns, which could fire a 15.1 kg shell up to 41,000 feet.

On the platform around the top of the funnel were a pair of searchlights, a pair of single 20mm mounts, and a 20mm Vierling. Aft of the funnel, a telescoping aircraft hanger held three aircraft. A fourth aircraft could be carried on the catapult Beneath the aircraft handling cranes on both sides were triple torpedo tubes, and outboard of the aft 150 mm turrets were lockers containing the reload torpedoes. After mid-1939 the Scharnhorst could be distinguished from her sister by the location of the mainmast, which on the Gneisenau was before the aircraft hanger and attached directly to the funnel. Aft of the mainmast was another 10.5 meter ranger finder with a FuMO 27 radar. The aft 105mm mount was located above the senior officers' quarters.

German Battlecruisers: Scharnhorst and Gneisenau