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Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk German Navy Battleships Deutschland Class Schlesien |
[UP] - Schleswig-Holstein - Deutschland - Hannover - Schlesien - Pommern |
SMS Schlesien a Deutschland class launched between 1904-1906 were the last German pre-dreadnought battleships. The rate of fire for their 6.7 inch guns was slow due to the handling of the 154 lb weight of the shells. SMS/KMS Schlesien The Schlesien, although by now somewhat out dated, participated in the Battle of Jutland under the 2nd Battle Squadron of the High Seas Fleet during 31 May 1916. With the stagnation of the fleet in port she was used a year later as an accommodation ship, being de-activated on 10 Nov 1918. After the war she became a Sea Cadet Schools ship. In 1926/27 she was refitted extensively at Wilhelmshaven, which included the re-installation of her central artillery, fitting of a modern engagement mast, replacement of 8 boilers and re-trunking of her funnels into 2 units (re-activated on 01 Mar 1927). After various foreign training journeys she was converted between Feb-Apr 1934, again into a Cadet School Ship. During the opening stages of September 1939 Schlesien took part with the Schleswig-Holstein in bombardment of Polish artillery positions along the Hela Peninsula. She also participated in Operation "Weser Exercise", (Norwegian Operation) in April 1940 before being laid up. Between 1941-44 she was used as an accommodation ship and also as an Icebreaker in the Baltic. In Aug 1944 she was converted as a Convoy Escort Vessel. In March 1945 she used her guns to fire upon advancing Red Army troops in the area of Danzig. Schlesien was later mined, crippling her in the shallow water of Swinemunde (Pomerania) on 3rd May 1945. The next day she was partly blown up to prevent capture. After the war the Russians used the ship as a target. She was broken up between 1949-56, although remnants of her were still visible into the 1980?s. Contributed by Car Proctor
Displacement: 13,200 tons Speed: 18 knots Range 4770 miles at 10 Knots. Complement: 743 Armament: Four 11 inch guns in pairs. Fourteen 6.7 inch guns. Twenty 3.4 inch guns. Six 18 inch torpedo tubes (1 bow, 4 beam, 1 stern) all submerged. |
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The Schlesien c.1927. A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available. Order photograph here ? Walker Archive. Order Code PGB064 |
SMS Schlesien c.1909 A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available. Order photograph here ? Walker Archive. Order Code PGB065 |
Schlesien, 1936. Original republished ? MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price ?5 Click here to order. Order Code MP5465 |
SMS Schlesien. in the Keil canal passing under the Grunenthal Bridge A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available. Order photograph here ? Walker Archive. Order Code PGB066 |
SMS Schlesien |
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SMS Schlesien. A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available. Order photograph here ? Walker Archive. Order Code PGB067 |
SMS Schlesien. A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available. Order photograph here ? Walker Archive. Order Code PGB070 |
SMS Schlesian was built by Schichau launched at Danzig on the 28th may 1906, commissioned into the German navy on the 5th may 1908. She participated in the Battle of Jutland before becoming an accommodation ship in 1917 at Keil and a training ship in 1918, before being refitted SMS Schlesian continued being a training ship in the Kriegsmarine during the second world war. Scleisien was mined off Swinemunde in the Baltic on the 3rd may 1945 and also bombed and was scuttled on the 4th may 1945. she was also torpedoed by T36. Broken up over a long period of time form 1946 until the 1980's in East Germany. |
Deutschland | 19th November 1904 | BU 1920-22 |
Hannover |
29th September 1905 |
BU 1944-46 |
2nd December 1905 | Torpedoed 1st June 1916 | |
Schlesien | 28th May 1906 | Scuttled 5th May 1945 |
Schleswig-Holstein | 7th December 1906 | Bombed 18th December 1944, raised broken up after the 1947 |
Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships. COPYRIGHT NOTICE. ALL IMAGES DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW, AND ARE OWNED BY CRANSTON FINE ARTS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. NO REPRODUCTION OR COPYING ALLOWED ON OTHER WEBSITES, BOOKS OR ARTICLES WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT. |
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