Warships of the Reichsmarine: The Battleships

Zähringen
Zähringen was the only member of the Wittelsbach-class to be retained by the Reichsmarine.*

Zähringen as built.

When built, Zähringen's characteristics were:

• Displacement: 12,798 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 416ft 0in (126.8m)
• Beam: 74ft 10in (22.8m)
• Draught: 26ft 1in (7.95m)
• Propulsion: 12 cylindrical boilers powering 3 triple-expansion steam engines, each of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 18 knots
• Range: 5,000 nautical miles at 10 knots
• Complement: 30 officers and 650 enlisted men
• Armament: 4 x 9.4 in (240mm) guns (40 cal.) (2 x 2), 18 × 5.9 in (150mm) SK L/40 guns (18 x 1); 12 × 3.5 in (88mm) SK L/30 guns (12 x 1); and 6 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (6 x 1)
• Armour: Belt: 3.9 to 8.9 in (100mm to 225mm); Turrets: 9.8 in (250mm); Deck: 2.0 in 50mm; Conning tower: 10 in (250mm)

Service history
Zähringen had been withdrawn from service in 1916, and became a drill ship at Kiel. In 1917 she became a stoker’s training ship. At the time when the treaty came into effect, she was retained by the Reichmarine for auxiliary purposes. From 1926 to 1928 she was converted into a radio-controlled target ship, and she used as such until she was sunk in Gotenhafen/Gdynia harbour by Allied bombers on 18th December 1944. She was raised, and then expended as a blockship at the entrance of the harbour on 26th March 1945. She was scrapped in situ from 1949 to 1950.

Zähringen as rebuilt a radio-controlled target ship.

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Braunschweig-class
Five ships of the Braunschweig-class were retained by the Reichsmarine.

Braunschweig-class as built.

When built, the Braunschweig-class’s characteristics were:

• Displacement: 13,208 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 419ft (127.7m)
• Beam: 72ft 10in (22.2m)
• Draught: 26ft 9in (8.16m)
• Propulsion: 14 boilers powering 3 triple-expansion steam engines, each of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 18 knots
• Range: 5,200 nautical miles at 10 knots
• Complement: 35 officers and 708 enlisted men
• Armament: 4 x 11in (280mm) SK L/40 guns (2 x 2); 14 × 6.7in (170mm) guns (14 x 1); 14 × 3.5 in (88mm) guns (14 x 1); and 6 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (6 x 1)
• Armor: Belt: 9.8in (250mm); Turrets: 9.8in (250mm); Deck: 1.6in (40mm); Conning tower: 12in (300mm)

Service histories
Braunschweig had been withdrawn from service in 1916, disarmed, and had served as a drill ship and later an accommodation ship at Kiel. In 1921/22 she was refitted at Wilhelmshaven and rearmed (4 x 11in (280mm) (2 x 2); 12 × 6.7in (170mm) guns (12 x 1); 4 × 3.5 in (88mm) anti-aircraft guns (4 x 1); and 2 × 21in (533mm) torpedo tubes (2 x 1)). From 1922 until 1926 she served as the flagship of the Marinestation der Nordsee (North Sea Naval Station) and later the Linienschiffsdivision (Battleship Division). She was in reserve from 1926 until she was withdrawn from service in 1931, stricken, and hulked.

Elsass had been withdrawn from service in 1916, disarmed, and had served as a drill ship and later an accommodation ship at Kiel. In 1923/24 she was refitted at Wilhelmshaven and rearmed (4 x 11in (280mm) (2 x 2); 10 × 6.7in (170mm) guns (10 x 1); 4 × 3.5 in (88mm) anti-aircraft guns (4 x 1); and 4 × 21in (533mm) torpedo tubes (4 x 1)). She was withdrawn from service in 1931, stricken, and hulked.

Hessen had been disarmed in 1916 and served as a tender at Brunsbuttel. In 1923/25 she was refitted at Wilhelmshaven and rearmed (4 x 11in (280mm) (2 x 2); 14 × 6.7in (170mm) guns (14 x 1); 4 × 3.5 in (88mm) anti-aircraft guns (4 x 1); and 4 × 21in (533mm) torpedo tubes (4 x 1)). In 1931 she was disarmed and converted into a radio-controlled target ship. Most of the existing superstructure was removed as was her armament, and the old propulsion machinery was replaced by steam turbines. She served in this role (and as an occasional icebreaker in the Baltic) until the end of World War II. She was then handed over to the Russians, renamed Tsel, and served in the Russian Navy as a target ship until she was scrapped in the 1960s.

Hessen as rebuilt as a radio-controlled target ship.

Lothringen served as a guardship in Sound in 1916, and in 1917 had 4 x 6.7in (170mm) guns removed, and became a drill ship and engineers training ship in Wilhelmshaven. She was disarmed in 1918 and converted into a depot ship for motor minesweepers (F-boats). She was stricken in 1931. (A 200ft section of the centre of the ship was retained for explosive trials at Wilhemshaven It was nicknamed Vierkant (Rectangle), and was bombed and sunk in April 1945. The wreck was subsequently raised and broke up.).

Preussen served as a guardship in Sound in 1916. She was disarmed in 1917 and converted into a depot ship for motor minesweepers (F-boats). She was stricken in 1931.

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Deutschland-class
Three ships of the Deutschland-class were retained by the Reichsmarine.

Deutschland-class as built.

When built, the Deutschland-class’s characteristics were:

• Displacement: 13,200 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 418ft 8in (127.6m)
• Beam: 72ft 10in (22.2m)
• Draught: 26ft 11in (8.21m)
• Propulsion: 12 boilers powering 3 triple-expansion steam engines, each of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 18.5 knots
• Range: 4,800 nautical miles at 10 knots
• Complement: 35 officers and 708 enlisted men
• Armament: 4 x 11in (280mm) SK L/40 guns (2 x 2); 14 × 6.7in (170mm) guns (14 x 1); 22 × 3.5 in (88mm) guns (22 x 1); and 6 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (6 x 1)
• Armor: Belt: 3.9in to 9.4in (100mm to 250mm); Turrets: 11in (280mm); Deck: 1.6in (40mm); Conning tower: 12in (300mm)

Service histories
Hannover fought at Jutland, and in 1917 became guardship in Sound. In 1920/21 she was refitted at Wilhelmshaven for service as Fleet Flagship in the Baltic. She moved to Kiel in 1922, and ceased to act as Flagship in 1923. She allocated to the North Sea Station in 1925, and decommissioned into Reserve in 1927. After some minor alterations she was recommissioned in 1930 and decommissioned in late 1931. After another period in reserve, she was stricken in 1936 and consideration was given for her to be converted into a radio-controlled target ship for aircraft. Her hull was retained as a hulk, and she was scrapped in Bremerhaven between 1944 and 1946.

Schleswig-Holstein fought at Jutland, and in 1917 she was a tender in Bremen. In 1918 she became an accommodation ship in Kiel, and in 1925/27 she was refitted in Wilhelmshaven. This included having her forward two funnels trunked together) and having her 6.7in (170mm) guns replaced by 5.9in (150mm) guns. She served as Fleet Flagship in 1926 but by 1935 she serving as a cadet training ship with a considerably reduced armament as most of her 5.9in (150mm) guns, 3.5in (88mm) guns, and her torpedo tubes had been removed. In 1939 she took part in the attack on Poland (she bombarded the Polish fortress at Westerplatte. The following year she took part in the invasion of Denmark, and henceforth served in various roles in the Baltic (e.g. acting as an icebreaker). In mid-1944 her anti-aircraft armament was strengthened so that she could be used as an air defence ship in the port of Gotenhafen/Gdynia. In December 1944 she was attacked by RAF bombers and sank in shallow water, but her guns were still able to operate. She was eventually set on fire by her crew when they were ordered to evacuate the area, and she was scrapped in situ between 1950 and 1956.

Schleswig-Holstein as a training ship during the Second World War. Schlesien was similar in outline, but the trunking on the foremost funnel was not as pronounced.

Schlesien fought at Jutland, and in 1917 she was a drill and accommodation ship in Kiel. In 1918 she became a cadet training ship, and in 1926/27 she was refitted (this included having her forward two funnels trunked together) and partially rearmed (her 6.7in (170mm) guns were replaced by 5.9in (150mm) guns) for further service. By 1936 she had been re-boilered and was serving as a cadet training ship with a considerably reduced armament as most of her 5.9in (150mm) guns, 3.5in (88mm) guns, and her torpedo tubes had been removed. In 1940 she took part in the invasion of Norway, and henceforth served in various roles in the Baltic (e.g. acting as an icebreaker). In mid-1944 her anti-aircraft armament was strengthened so that she could be used as an air defence ship in the port of Gotenhafen/Gdynia. In March 1945 she provided fire support for German troops in the vicinity of Gotenhafen/Gdynia, and during the following month she moved to Swinemünde to restock her ammunition and to evacuate 1,000 wounded soldiers from the front. On 3rd May she struck a mine outside Swinemünde, and was scuttled on the following day. She sank in shallow water, and was broken up in situ from 1949 to 1953.

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* Wittelsbach and Schwaben of the Wittelsbach-class were disarmed in 1918 and converted into a depot ships for motor minesweepers (F-boats). Neither was ever intended to be recommissioned as a warship. Both were sold in 1921, and scrapped in Wilhelmshaven and Kiel respectively.