SMS Von der Tann
SMS Moltke
HMS Neptune
An item referred to the Germany magazine Schiffbau reporting that the large German cruisers of the Moltke-class (1) were fitted out with 10 heavy guns divided over 5 turrets in contrary to the 10 British large cruisers and the German cruiser SMS Von der Tann (2) which had just 8 guns. The 5th gun turret placed amidships before the aft turret fired over the aft turret supplying a huge advantage above her British opponents. In the meantime choose with the Neptune-class (3) the Royal British Navy for a similar arrangement. Of the other 3 turrets was one placed amidships fore, one starboard for and the other one port side aft. (en echelon) The German magazine expressed her dissatisfaction with the fact that the calibre of the main guns was just 28cm while all other major naval powers choose for a minimum calibre of 30,5cm.
Notes
1. Battle cruiser of the Moltke-class. Sister ship Goeben. Building ordered on 17 September 1908. Laid down at the shipyard of Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany on 7 December 1908, baptized by Helmuth von Moltke the Younger and launched on 7 April 1910, commissioned on 30 August 1911 and scuttled by her own crew to prevent that she fell into British hands on 21 June 1919, raised in 1927 and broken up at Rosyth between 1927-1929.
2. Battle cruiser. Laid down at the shipyard of Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany on 21 March 1908, launched on 20 March 1909, baptized on 1 September 1910, commissioned on 20 March 1909, interned after the First World War at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland but scuttled by her own crew to prevent that she fell into British hands on 21 June 1919 and in the 1930s raised and broken up at Rosyth. Her homeport Was Kiel, Germany.
3. Dreadnought battleship, preceded by the St. Vincent-class and succeeded by the Colossus-class. Building ordered under the 1908 Naval Estimates, laid down on 19 January 1909, launched on 30 September 1909, commissioned on 11 January 1911 and finally broken up in September 1922.
