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Saturday, 20 February 2016

German pre dreadnought battleship SMS (ex-“J”) Elsass 1901-1936

Wittelsbach-class

Braunschweig-class

Deutschland-class

Laid down under temporarily name “J” at the Schichau-Werke, Danzig, Germany with yard number 696 in 1901, launched on 26 May 1903, completed at the Kaiserlichte Werft, Kiel since 26 October 1904, commissioned on 29 November 1904, decommissioned on 18 December 1915, disarmed training ship since 25 July 1916, modernized in 1923-1924, decommissioned on 15 February 1924, decommissioned and laid up in reserve on 25 February 1930, stricken on 31March 1931, served for some time as hulk at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, sold to the Norddeutscher Lloyd on 31 October 1935  and finally broken up at Bremerhaven, Germany in 1936.

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.