German battle cruiser SMS (ex-Cruiser J) Seydlitz 1910-1919 (1930)

SMS Moltke

SMS Seydlitz

SMS Von der Tann

The German Emperor approved her design on 27 January 1910, building as the Cruiser J was ordered on 21 March 1910, laid down at Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 209 on 4 February 1911, launched on 30 March 1912, commissioned on 22 May 1913, scuttled by her own crew at Scapa Flow, Orkney, Isles, Scotland on 21 June 1919 and salvaged on 2 November 1928 following a break up in 1930 at Rosyth. Building costs 44.685.000 Mark. Preceded by the Moltke-class and succeeded by the Derfflinger-class.

Displacement 24.988 (normal)-28.500 (full load) and as dimensions 200 (waterline) 200,6 (over all) x 28,5 x 9,29 metres or 656.2”- 658.2 x 93.6 x 30.6 feet. Double bottom for 75% of the hull length. The Parsons turbines and 27 Schulz-Thornycroft small tube boilers supplied 88.510 ship allowing with the 4 screws a speed of 26,5 knots and with a speed of 14 knots a range of 4.200 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 1.068 men. The armament consisted of 5x2-28cm/11” quick firing L/50 guns, 12x1-15cm/5.9” quick firing L/45 guns in casemates and 12x1-8,8cm/3.5” guns in casemates (in 1916 were 2 replaced by high-angle 8,8cm Flak L/45 guns) and 4-50cm/19.7” submerged torpedo tubes (1xbow,1xstern 2xsides) for which11 torpedoes were taken with her. Krupp cemented and nickel steel made armour consisting of a belt 10cm/3,9( at bow and stern)-30cm/12” (middle). A torpedo bulkhead with a thickness of 5cm/2.0”. Conning tower protected by 20cm/7.9” (roof)-35cm/14” (sides), turrets 7-10cm/2.8-3.9” (roods)-25cm/9.8” (sides), casemates 3,5cm/1.4” (roofs)-15cm/5.9” (sides) and turret barbettes 23cm/9.1“. Deck armour 3cm/1.2”-8cm/3.1”. Shields 7cm.