Of the Deutschland-class, a design which was outdated by the time when commissioned compared with the faster, better armoured and heavier armed post-Dreadnought battleships. Laid down at he AG Vulcan shipyard at Danzig on 19 November 1904, launched on 28 May two year s later, since March 1908 fitted out at Kiel, commissioned on 5 May for her trials which were however be delayed and she was added to the fleet in September, 1927-1928 refitted and since then two funnels, 1932 decommissioned for her conversion into a training ship including adding anti-aircraft guns and replacing the boilers by a more efficient newer type resulting a lees needed number, in 1939 used for icebreaking duties, since 1941 barrack ship in Gotenhafen, in 1944 was just like her sister ship Schleswig Holstein the anti-aircraft armament considerably strengthened so they could be used as air defence ships, on 3 May a year later she struck a mine off Zinnowitz and she was beached into shallow water still able to support German forces which were retreating(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Schlesien). Another source (
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Schlesien) claimed she was hit by an aircraft attack on 4 May and beached the next day, scuttled and by the torpedo boat T36 shelled. Her wreck was in situ broken up in the period 1949-1956 although until 1980 still remaining parts of her were visible.
The Deutschland-class had a displacement of 13,200 (normal)-14.218 metric tons/13.993 long tons/15.673 short tons (full loaded) with as dimensions 127,6 x 22,2 x 7,7 (class)-8,21 metres or 419 x 73 x 25-26,9 feet. The triple expansion engines supplied 16.000-19.330 (design) hp allowing a speed of 18 knots and with a speed of 10 knots she had a range of 5.83000 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 558 (training ship)-743 (battleship). As a training ship she could carry with her 214 cadets. The original armament consisted of 2x2-28cm/11”guns, 14-17cm guns (casemated), 22-8.8cm/3.5” guns in pivot mounts and 6-45cm/18” submerged in the hull torpedo tubes. In 1939 was the armament altered in by 2x2-28cm/11”, 2-8.8cm/3.5: guns, 4-3.7cm/1.5”guns and 22-2cm/0.8” guns. The armour consisted of a 23cm thick belt, a 7,6cm thick deck and the gun turrets protected by 28cm.
See further more for instance the websites
http://www.kaisersbunker.com/pommern/karten/schlesien.htm,
http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/germany/battleships/schlesien/schlesien_page_2.htm and of course
http://www.forum-marinearchiv.de
