German pre-dreadnought battleship SMS (ex-’O’) Hannover 1904-1946

Braunschweig-class

Deutschland-class

Nassau-class

Laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven, Germany with contract name ‘O’) on 7 November 1904, launched on 29 September 1905, commissioned on 1 October 1907, target and later guard ship in 1917, commissioned as flagship in the Reichsmarine in February 1921, decommissioned in March 1927, slightly modernized with new masts recommissioned in 1930-1931, stricken in 1936, intention to convert her into a target never realized and instead broken up between May 1944-October 1946 at Bremerhaven, Germany.

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. 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.