German pre dreadnought battleship SMS (ex-“L”) Hessen 1902-1946 and Russian Tsel 1946-1960

Wittelsbach-class

Braunschweig-class

Deutschland-class

As target around 1937

Laid down with the contract name “L” at the Germaniawerft, Kiel with yard number 100 in April 1902, launched by princess Irene von Hessen-Darmstadt on 18 September 1903, commissioned on 19 September 1905, target in the Baltic Sea in December 1916, decommissioned on 18 January 1917, disarmed and converted into an accommodation for submarine crews at Brunsbüttel, Germany nicknamed SMS Kleinste Fahrt, modernized in 1924, decommissioned on 5 January 1925, replaced by the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer decommissioned on 12 November 1934, converted into a radio-controlled target decommissioned on 1 April 1937, used as target and as icebreaker in the Baltic and North Sea between 1939-1945, ceded to Russia at Libau, Latvia in January 1946, renamed Tsel and finally broken up in 1960.

Of the Braunschweig-class consisting of the Braunschweig, Elsass, Hessen, Lothringen and Preussen. Preceded by the Wittelsbach-class and succeeded by the Deutschland-class. General technical specifications of this class. With a displacement of 13.208 (design)-14.394 (full load) tons and as dimensions 126 (waterline)-127,7 (over all) x 22,2 x 8,1 metres or 413.3 419 x 72.10 x 26.7 feet. The hull was fitted out with a double bottom of 60% of the length and further more divided in 13 watertight compartments. The class had good seagoing qualities although with a intentioned to pitch heavily. The 3-shaft triple expansion engines and 8 Marine type boilers and 6 cylinder boilers supplying 16.000 ihp via 3 screws. Originally coil-fired, after 1916 also oil-fired. Speed 18 knots and with a speed of 10 knots a range of 5.200 nautical miles. Their crew numbered 743 men included 35 officers. The Krupp manufactured armour consisted of a 10-22,5cm/3.9-8.9” thick belt. a 4cm/1.6” thick deck with the main gun turrets protected by 25cm/9.8”, conning tower by 5cm/1.97” (roof)-30cm/11.8” (sides), the secondary battery turrets by 15cm/5.9” and the casemate gun shield 7cm/2.75” thick armour/ The armament consisted of 2x2-28cm/11” quick firing L/40 guns, 14-17cm/6.7” guns, 14-8,8cm/3.5” guns and 6-45cm/18” torpedo tubes for which 16 torpedoes were taken with them.