German pre-dreadnought battleship SMS (ex-‘R’) Schlesien 1904-1956

Braunschweig-class

Deutschland-class

Nassau-class

Schlesien towards the end of har career

Laid down at the Schichau Werft, Danzig under the contract name ‘R’) on 19 November 1904, launched on 28 May 1906, completed/fitted out at Kiel, Germany after 28 May 1908, commissioned on 5 May 1908, served for a short period as torpedo trials vessel, trials between 6 July-5 September 1908, modernized in the 1920’s, converted into a training ship after May 1935, temporarily used as ice breaker for submarines in 1939 and in March 1941 when escorting minelayers active in the Baltic, next converted into a barracks ship at Gotenhafen, Germany, rearmed with anti aircraft guns to protect as a air defence ship the harbour of Gotenhafen, used to evacuate wounded military returning from the front and deliberately beached when she shit  a mine off Zinnowitz, Swinemünde on 3 May 1945, able to support the evacuation of German forces while her main guns were still operable as being above the water level and finally broken up en situ between 1949-1956. Remains of her could still be seen in 1970.

Of the Deutschland-class consisting of the Deutschland, Hannover, Pommern, Schlesien and Schleswig-Holstein. Preceded by the Braunschweig-class and succeeded by the Nassau-class. General technical specifications of the Deutschland-class. Displacement of 13.200 tons/12.992 long tons (normal)-14.318 tons/13.993 long tons (full load) and as dimensions 127,60 x 22,20 x 8,21 metres or 418.8 x 72.10 x 26.11 metres. Three triple engines and 12 marine boilers delivering 17.000 ihp allowing a speed of 18,5 knots or with a speed of 10 knots a range of 4.800 nautical miles. Coal bunker capacity 700 tons (design)-1.540 (maximum while using spare spaces). Their crew numbered 743 (included 35 officers) men, after 1935 reduced to 588men. . The Krupp cemented armour consisted of 1-10cm/24cm/3.9-9.4” thick belt, a 4cm/1.6” thick deck, the main gun turrets protected by 5cm/2.o” (roof)-28cm/11” (sides), barbettes 25cm/9.8“, casemate guns 3,5cm/1.4”, conning towers fore 30cm/12” an conning towers aft 14cm/5.5’. The original armament consisted of 2x2-28cm/11”l/40 quick firing guns, 14-17cm/6.7” guns, 22-8,8cm/3.5” L/45 quick firing guns and 6-45cm/18” torpedo tubes. The armament consisted in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War of 2c2-28cm guns, 2-8,8cm guns, 2x2-3,7cm/1.5” guns and 22-2cm/0.8” canons.