USA using old German battleship Ostfriesland as target for testing value of air attacks according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf dated 9 February 1921

Helgoland-class

Marinemuseum Wilhelmshaven

An item dated London, England 8th referred to the Times reporting that the American Secretary of the Navy Daniëls (1) proposed his colleague of war (2) to execute tests how battleships could defend themselves against aircraft attacks. The former German warship Ost Friesland (3) was to be used as target for this purpose. The proposal was a result of the discussion going on which kind of warships were the most effective in a naval war.

Notes
1. Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862 Washington, North Carolina, USA-15 January 1948 Raleigh, North Carolina, USA). Secretary of Navy 5 March 1913-4 March 1921, in 1933-1941 ambassador to Mexico.
2. John Wingate Weeks (11 April 1860 Lancaster, New Hampshire, USA-12 July 1926 Lancaster, New Hampshire, USA), Republican politician, Secretary of War 5 March 1921-13 October 1925.
3. Of the Helgoland-class consisting of the Helgoland, Ostfriesland, Thüringen and Oldenburg. Preceded by the Nassau-class and succeeded by the Kaiser-class. Laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft, Wilhelmshaven as the Ersatz Oldenburg with yard number 31on 19 October 1908, launched on 30 September 1909, commissioned on 1 Augustus 1911, in service on 22 September 1911, stricken from the navy list on 5 November 1919, handed over to the USA according to the Treaty of Versailles and to compensate the German warships scuttled at Scapa Flow as the “H”, departed Germany on 7 April 1920 with a German crew towards to Rosyth, Scotland and from there on 9 April by an American crew to the USA and sunk on 21 July 1921 while used as target ship by bombers off Cape Hatteras. Building costs 43.579.000 gold marks