SMS
Helgoland. German Battleship of the Helgoland class
Ordered in the 1908 Budget and completed in 1911 Built by
Howardtswerke at Kiel and laid down on the 24th December 1908, launched
25th September . and completed 19th December 1911. First German battleships to be armed with 12 inch main guns, More space
than the Westfalen class, a greater beam allowed the Turrets to be placed
further inboard which gave more protection to the magazines. between 1915 to
1917, the 3.4 inch guns were removed and replaced with four 3.4 inch Anti
aircraft guns. Served in the Battle of Jutland
, and received one hit, repairs
only took a few days and she was repaired and ready for action of the 16th
June 1916. She was stricken on the 5th November 1919 and
surrendered to the UK on the 5th august 1920. to replace one of the ships which
had been scuttled earlier. Used for experimental purposes. and finally
scrapped at Morecambe in 1924.
Displacement 22,800 TONS,
DIMENSIONS 546FT (166M) X 93.5FT(28.5M) X 27.5FT(8.9M)
SPEED 20.5 KNOTS TO 21 KNOTS
ARMAMENT TWELVE 12-INCH GUNS IN PAIRS IN SIX TURRETS. FOURTEEN
5.9INCH SINGLE GUNS, AND FOURTEEN 3.4INCH SINGLE GUNS
LATER IN 1917 THE 3.4 INCH GUNS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH TWO TO FOUR 3.4
INCH ANTI AIRCRAFT GUNS. SIX 20 INCH TORPEDO TUBES
(SUBMERGED).
COMPLIMENT OF 1100 TO 1390 (1284 to 1390 during the Battle of Jutland
)
